Broken Beautiful Hearts

4. Little Black Box

The fact that I asked Reed if we could spend time alone tonight and we ended up at a keger sums up the current state of our relationship.

"You sure you don't want to drink?" Reed holds out a plastic cup. "It's your night. We should toast your acceptance."

"But you're not drinking," I say. He never drinks the night before a fight.

"I'll l toast with this." He holds up the can of a Coke he's drinking.

"That's okay. We can celebrate next week at Bourbon Steak." It's our favorite restaurant downtown. We made a reservation weeks ago just in case I had college news to celebrate.

"Is that next week?" He asks.

I know what's coming. "Yes. On Thursday night. It'll be nice to spend some time alone."

He puts down the plastic cup. "About Thursday. I'm working late. But you can pick another night."

"It took weeks to get a reservation. You can skip one night at the gym."

"I wish I could." He's bailing on me. Again. "Forget it. I don't want to go anymore." I'm not trying to get Reed into changing his schedule. I mean it.

"I thought you'd be in a better mood tonight."

"I was until you bailed on me for the 10th time."

"Hi, you too." Tess enters the kitchen, her cheeks flushed and her hairline sweaty from dancing. She twists her hair into a knot, studying us. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I cross my arms and watch a guy beer pong a six pack.

"Peyton is pissed off because I wanted to come to the party." Reed says.

Was he paying any attention to our conversation?

"I'm not pissed."  But I'm getting there.

"You look pissed." Tess says.

"I'm annoyed, and it has nothing to do with the party."

"Right." Reed exhales loudly. "She's mad because I can't go to dinner on Thursday. I've got to work."

"You didn't even remember we had plans." When did I become the girl who begs her boyfriend for attention? And how fast can I get rid of her?

"That's not -" He says, but I cut him off.

"I don't want to argue. It's one stupid dinner. It doesn't matter."

Reed's phone pings and he reads the incoming text. "Hold on."

Sure. Why not? It's not like we were having a conversation or anything.

Reed wanders away from us, focused on whatever he's typing. Without looking up, he holds up two fingers and says, "Give me two minutes."

"More like 20," I say loud enough for him to hear.

If he was actually listening.

Tess nudges my shoulder with hers. "I know Reed is a pain in the ass sometimes, but tonight it's not his fault. He's always a little off after the Sperm Donor calls."

She's probably right, but over the last two months, making excuses for her brother has become Tess's full-time job.

"It's not about whether or not he loves me. Something is going on with him, and it's not just the phone call. Something's changed. He's different." I didn't realize how much until I heard him yelling at his mom.

Tess stares at the floor.

"Whatever it is, go ahead and say it," I tell her.

"Maybe it's not Reed."