Page 83 of His Hungry Wolf
“What’s going on?” Claude asked, hearing my pleas.
“I’m assuming Claude is your boyfriend now?” Jason inquired.
I froze.
“I wouldn’t say that,” I said, second-guessing what I was saying.
“Well, whoever he is, I don’t feel it’s healthy for me to help you be with someone else. You hurt me. I’m mad at you. And I have the right to act on it, just like you had the right to treat me like I didn’t matter.”
“But, Jason…”
“I’m not changing my mind. I’m just calling you so you didn’t have to read it in a text. Good luck with everything, and I hope you end up with someone who treats you exactly how you treated me. Bye, Merri.”
“But…” I said, right before the line went dead.
I lowered the phone, stunned.
“Merri, what’s going on?” Claude asked, worried.
I turned to him, barely able to breathe.
“I think I screwed things up again.”
“What happened?”
“Jason just withdrew your invitation to the showcase.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“So, I’ve been practicing all summer for nothing?”
I stared at him without an answer.
“I don’t get it. Why did he change his mind?”
“Because I was a terrible boyfriend,” I admitted. “He thinks I have feelings for you, and he’s doing this to hurt me.”
Claude backed into the couch and fell onto it. Closing his eyes, he put his hands on his forehead, trying to fight off his frustration.
“I’m sorry, Claude. I’m so sorry.”
“What do we do now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do I just leave?”
“No!” I said louder than I had intended. “I mean, I can think of something. I’m not going to let you down. I’ll figure a way out of this.”
We didn’t say much more to each other for the rest of the night. Lying in bed, he didn’t hold me. He had every night since we had begun sleeping together, but not tonight.
I didn’t sleep at all. Instead, I spiraled, thinking about what I could possibly do. By morning, I had something. It was a long shot, but it was a chance.
As soon as I heard him stir, I presented it to him.
“You have to take me to this year’s Hall of Fame game,” I informed him.