It rings once, twice, three times. My hands are shaking and I am equally hoping that he'll pick up and that it'll go to voicemail. A fourth ring and I am tempted to just hang up, save myself the embarrassment. He will know, though. He will know that I called and what if he doesn't call back. Or, what if he does? Shit, I really didn't think this through. Like, at all. What do I even say when he picks up? Sweat starts pooling at the back of my neck and I start biting my lip a little too hard when someone picks up the phone.

"Hello?" a feminine and light voice says at the end of the line.

Why is a woman answering his phone? I take my own phone off my ear to glance at the screen and check the number. Maybe I clicked on the wrong contact?

I didn't. I am a bit drunk but it clearly says 'big ol' grump' on the screen.

"Um, hi," I croak. "I- uh is Eli there?"

"He's not here right now. He must've left his phone at home like the idiot he is," she laughs. "Would you like me to get a message to him or to tell him to call you back?" she then asks in a friendly tone.

A silent tear slides down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away with the back of my hand. It's only been a few weeks but of course, he found someone else. He is a great guy and she seems great, too. Friendly, warm, welcoming and confident, as well. Fuck.

"Um, no thank you, that's alright. It wasn't important anyway. Actually, no need to tell him I called at all, sorry to bother you." I force my voice to sound somewhat friendly and promptly hang up the phone before I burst into tears. An invisible fist closes around my heart and starts to tightly squeeze.

After a few minutes of me silently sobbing in the bathroom stall, someone bangs on the door, asking me when I'm finally done. I halfheartedly wipe away the mascara under my eyes and exit the stall. Without looking in the mirror, I make my way back to my friends and swiftly down two tequila shots.

"Woah, hey! Are you okay?" Tess yells into my ear.

I wave her off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get wasted!"

"You got it, girl," Tess smirks and hands me another shot.

Everything hurts and is too loud. Way too loud. Where is this incessant pounding coming from? I slowly blink open my eyes which feel too heavy and try to locate the source of the pounding. It takes me a minute to realize it comes from inside my own head. I groan and move around a little and then I feel it - an arm draped over my waist, its weight heavy against my body. Oh no. Oh no no no. Almost in slow motion, I turn around and release a heavy breath of relief when I see that Tess is the person spooning me. She mumbles something about waterslides in her sleep and tightens her grip on my waist. I look around and recognize our living room. We're sprawled in one tangled mess on our tiny couch and I can already feel the soreness in my muscles from sleeping in an unhealthy position. As if the hangover wasn't enough.

I pry my best friend's arms and hands from my body and slowly shuffle into the bathroom to take a much-needed shower. The hot water soothes my aching muscles and my mind wanders off to last night's events. It was a fun night, we drank and danced until the bar closed and I didn't let loose like this in a while but I can't help but wonder - what in the hell possessed me to get so damn drunk?

And then it dawns on me and my head falls back against the shower tiles with a painful thud. I almost welcome the physical pain, it feels more endurable than the soul-searing anguish I feel when I think about Eli. Specifically about Eli with his ex-wife. Or Eli with his new girlfriend.

You just have to get over it, Romy.

I tried telling myself that over and over again while getting ready but I'm now making breakfast and I'm still not over it. Seems like I am not as good at convincing myself as I thought I was.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Tess groans and rubs at her temples as she tumbles rather than walks from the couch to the kitchen counter. I already poured us large glasses of orange juice and put two painkillers next to it.

"How are you able to remotely function like a normal human being right now? It is killing me to merely exist," my best friend complains and I grin at her.

"I'm just keeping my real feelings on the inside, unlike you," I laugh and she gives me the finger before downing the juice and painkillers.

We eat in silence for a while before my bad conscience gets the best of me and I blurt out a confession, "I called Eli yesterday."

I immediately try to gauge her reaction but she seems to struggle with deciding how to react.

"You idiot," she grumbles through a mouthful of greasy food. "Why would you do that?"

"I was drunk," I wail.

"That's a bullshit excuse and you know it," she glares at me.

I look down at my plate. "Yeah, I know. But I couldn't help it. It wasn't even really a conscious decision, it just happened. He didn't pick up anyway, his new girlfriend did."

Tess spits out the water she was drinking and starts choking and coughing like crazy. I get up from my chair and slap her back a few times to help her breathe before sitting back down.

"Oww, my head," she whines when she calms down. "What do you mean his new girlfriend?!"

"A woman answered his phone, it wasn't Janet so I figured it must be his new girlfriend," I shrug but my wavery voice betrays my actual feelings.

"You don't know that, it could've been anyone. A friend or something," Tess reasons. "Or one of Ben's friends."

"Maybe, but I think the chance is quite slim. We've been at your brother's place for almost three months and I've never seen them hang out with any female friends, did you?"

"No, but that doesn't have to mean anything. Nonetheless, that's what you get for not listening to me," she mutters and I roll my eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me, young lady," she mock-scolds me and I make a kissy face at her. Suddenly, she expresses a somewhat guilty look on her pretty face and I study her for a minute.

"What's wrong?" I ask her.

"Huh? Oh nothing, why do you ask?" she feigns surprise.

I cock my head to one side and say, "Come on, I know something's up with you."

"Okay, fine! I kinda, maybe, possibly forgot to tell you, that Ben comes to visit this weekend." She looks at me sheepishly.

"Oh, well that's cool! Why do you look guilty about it? Did you promise him my bed and I have to take the couch, or what?"

"No, no of course not!" she laughs. "I just- I mean, I'm not sure but Eli might be with him, he couldn't tell me for sure if he had the time to join him but it is a possibility. They're staying at a hotel though, so you can definitely sleep in your bed." She offers me a small smile but I can only gape at her. My heart flutters with a mix of anxiety and excitement.

"He is coming here?"

"I'm not sure, please don't be mad, I just didn't want to get your hopes up or make you mad or anything by telling you they are coming to visit and then he wouldn't be here after all. But now it's only a couple of days until Ben arrives and I really needed to tell you. Just in case Eli comes, too."

I blow out a long breath through my nose and rest my chin on my propped-up hand. "Okay, it's fine. I'm not mad, just... scared." My voice shakes and I bite my lower lip to keep from crying.

"Hey, it's gonna be fine. I think you two still left a lot of things unsaid and he made you a promise, right? Don't you wanna find out if he kept it?" Tess takes my hand in hers and squeezes gently and reassuringly.

I nod. "I do, but I am still scared. Especially with this possible new girlfriend in the picture."

"And that's fine. It is a scary situation so you have all the right to be scared. But you are strong and you can do it, I know you can."

I let out something that's somewhere between a laugh and a cry and squeeze Tess's hand back.

"You're right. I need to talk to him sooner rather than later, so why not this weekend, right?"

"Absolutely."

Tess and I skipped class that day but I had a full day of classes on Thursday and before I know it, it is Friday afternoon and I'm leaving my marketing lecture. I wanted to text Ben all day, asking him if Eli was coming or not but I didn't want to seem desperate so I refrained. I texted my best friend instead. She only told me that he didn't say anything further about Eli coming or not, he just sent her a quick text when he started driving to let her know he won't be looking at his phone for a while. He's such a responsible person, not texting while driving. I gotta admire that.

He, or they, must be here soon so should I hurry home. As that thought crosses my mind, a loud grumbling noise sounds in the distance and I look up to see dark clouds gathering in the sky. Great, it's going to rain. That's just perfect. When I left the apartment this morning, the sky was void of any clouds and the sun was bathing the world in a warm glow. Now, it looks like the weather gods are extremely angry. I cross the street to the bus stop to look at the schedule but the next bus doesn't arrive for another 20 minutes, so I decide to walk home. It's not that far, anyway.

I don't make it two blocks before I am soaked to the bone. The rain is coming down hard, the wind picking up its pace. My jean shorts and t-shirt are clinging to my skin in a rather uncomfortable way, my hair sticks to my face and neck. I hope that my books and notes in my bag make it out alive, otherwise, I'm screwed. My head swings from left to right as I stop on the sidewalk to look down the street. Maybe there's a taxi nearby. Except for a few cars and people hurrying to the closest buildings to get shelter from the rain, not a lot is going on in the street - and no taxis in sight. Just my luck.

I pull my cell from my pocket and press Tess's speed dial. She picks up almost immediately.

"Are you outside?" she asks without bothering to say hello.

"Yes, I'm outside. It's a crazy thunderstorm out here and I didn't want to wait 20 minutes for the next bus. Could you come pick me up? I'm still about 15 minutes from the apartment," I ask in a hopeful voice.

"My car didn't want to start this morning but I can try again. Ben promised to take a look at it tomorrow," she says with a sigh.

"You think it will start?"

"Probably not, but I can try."

"No, don't worry I'll walk then. Wouldn't want you to damage the only vehicle we have to get around any further," I half laugh into the phone.

"Good thinking. Maybe you should wait somewhere until the rain calms down in case there's lightning," she suggests.

"I'll be fine, as soon as I see lightning I'll go and find somewhere to wait, I promise."

"Okay, I'll see you soon then. Sorry about the car. Are you gonna cook tonight?"

"I was planning to, yes. Any specific wishes?" I inquire.

"How about lasagna soup? Lasagna is Ben's fave but I feel like having soup with this weather."

"Sure, no problem. See you in a bit."

"You're the best, babes," Tess kisses the phone and hangs up. I smile to myself and pick up the pace. I really want to get home.

I heave a massive sigh of relief when our apartment building finally comes into view. Grabbing the strap of my bag a little tighter, I run toward the building entrance. I'm almost at the door when someone comes walking out of it and I stop dead in my tracks.

He's here. Eli is here, so close that I can almost touch him if I reached out my hand.

"Eli," I whisper and I thought he might not hear me over the rain and my wildly beating heart but he does.

"Romy," he says with so much longing that it takes everything in me to not run straight into his arms. "I was just about to get you," he says and takes a step closer.