Page 40 of Agony

“Is that when everyone’s gonna be there?”

“No. Just Jareth will be there, I think. The cast and crew should be there by six though.”

I looked at Addie who was shaking her head. I raised an eyebrow at her and she just sighed.

“Oh, alright. Well, I’ll let you go. I’ll call you this week,” he said, hanging up the phone abruptly.

I looked down at the phone in my hand and stared for a moment. I didn’t understand what I had said that was so wrong that I garnered that reaction out of him.

“Neve, help me out here,” Addie said, putting her face in her hand. “Why would you tell your boyfriend that you’re going to be alone with another man for two hours? Before anyone else gets there?”

“I don’t get it.”

“Okay, look at it this way. How would you feel if Arsen said he was going to a set two hours before everyone else got there and it would just be him and some girl? Alone. Together. For two hours.”

I grabbed my phone and sent him a message.

Hey. I hope I didn’t upset you.

He answered a few minutes later.

No. Not upset.

I bit my lip thinking of what I could say that would put him at ease.

You can come if you want. I’m sure no one would mind.

I’ll think about it.

Okay. Missed you today. xx

I missed you too. <3

I smiled and set the phone down, confident in the knowledge that Arsen was now okay with my being alone with Jareth on Monday.

“When do you leave, Addie?” I asked settling back on the couch.

“Friday night,” she replied.

“Well, considering it’s Wednesday, I declare that there will be no more boys until you leave!” I exclaimed, pumping my fist in the air.

“N… none?” she asked, looking completely crestfallen.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Addie did love her boy toys.

“What I meant was no more interruption from my boy,” I explained with a grin.

“Boy? I’m pretty sure you said ‘boys’ earlier,” she remarked wiggling her eyebrows.

“Oh, shut up,” I grumbled.

ChapterNine

Thursday came and went and before I knew it, it was Friday morning. Addie didn’t have to be at the airport until ten that night, so we just spent the day walking around, shopping, and going to the local ice cream shop.

It had been quiet on the “man” front, which I actually found to be nice. Nothing from Arsen and no word from Jareth, either.

When the sun fell and we went back to my apartment, I found myself fighting tears. I’d give anything to have Addie stay here with me until I moved back to New York, but that would I knew it would be selfish to take her away from our family, too.