Me: Will?
Me: Where are youuu?
Me: Babeeeeee
Me: 🙃🙃🙃
I click my phone off with a frown, looking up at Sofia. "He still hasn't answered."
"I'm sure he's on the way." She gives me a reassuring smile.
"I hope so," I mutter. I'm a party that my team put together to celebrate my debut album releasing tonight. Actually, in thirty minutes. Wilbur had a meeting with Lovejoy tonight, so I knew he'd be a little late, but I thought he'd make time to be here at a decent hour. I guess not.
I'm already stressed out because of my music releasing and Wilbur not being here, so having to constantly fake smile and talk to a bunch of industry people I don't care about makes me feel even worse. Thank God that Sofia is here, or I would've had a breakdown awhile ago. Of course, I'm insanely grateful that these people are interested in my life, but that's just it. They only ask about my relationship with Wilbur, since he's much more famous and accomplished than me, and nothing about my music.
Luckily, David listened to my suggestion, and had my social media people pick out some fans to ask questions about the album. They all asked about the meanings of each song and the inspiration I've gotten, and nothing about Wilbur. I'm branching out from having only people know me from him to being known because of myself. I'm even announcing my first tour tomorrow. I've finally been able to establish myself. I'd do anytning to tell my younger self about what was ahead of her.
My phone buzzes with five minutes on the clock. I check it, praying it's Wilbur apologizing and giving a valid excuse for being late, but nope. Just an Instagram notification I don't care about. I send him a few last texts before David takes me to speak in front of the fans and others that were invited.
Me: You better have a goooooood reason why you're not here.
Me: I'm pissed.
Me: All week I've been telling you to make sure that you'd be free tonight. That's all I wanted.
I paste on a smile as I stand on a mini stage with a poster of my album cover behind me. I wave excitedly at the fans, immediately feeling better as I see them.
"So," I speak into a mic on a stand. "This is absolutely insane. I can't believe my life is real right now, dude. Thank you to everyone who came out tonight, and everyone who has ever supported me, even if you just streamed my song to hate on it."
I earn a laugh from the crowd and take a second to search for Wilbur. It's always easy to spot him because of his height, and still, he's nowhere to be seen.
"Most of the album is just made up or dramatized stories, since I just recently got into my first relationship. The other songs are about dealing with my depression and anxiety and just shitty mental health. It means so much to me that so many of you have said that I've helped you feel less alone. I seriously love and adore all of you, and..." I glance to the side at the giant digital clock on a screen. "Eve is out!"
There's a bit of cheering, so I do a small bow and step down, holding hands, taking pictures, and signing autographs for the fans at the railing. I spend a good bit of time with them even though I'm asked by my team multiple times to leave. Finally, I leave the fans after blowing them many kisses, and find Sofia. I'm really supposed to stay and socialize a bit longer, but I'm tired and mad but also a bit worried about Wilbur.
"You good if we go?" I ask her, pulling a sweater on over my dress.
"It's your night, love. You decide what we do."
"Alright," I glance around. "I might not be allowed to leave if I mention it, so let's sneak out."
Luckily, we're able to get out of the building without being stopped. Sofia had texted an Uber right before we left, so the car is pulling up right as we step out. We get in quickly and tell the driver my address.
Sofia's been working the past few weeks at her new job as a coffee barista. She makes decent money because of all the tips, and after lots of persuasion, she's agreed to let me help pay for her new place. She's looking around and should be gone in the next few weeks, which I'm sure Wilbur will be glad about. They've gotten along well, but Sofia hates smokers so I force him to only smoke on the balcony, which he can't stand. Just to be petty, he doesn't put the cig out until he gets inside, even though it doesn't make any sense.
We reach my apartment and rush up the stairs to my door. I use my keys to get us inside, and immediately feel my stomach drop as I see Wilbur's sole pair of shoes sitting by the door. I really had hope that he had an emergency or something, but no. He just didn't show up.
"I'll be in my room." Sofia mutters, seeing the anger on my face.
I kick off the uncomfortable heels and storm into my room. Wilbur's asleep on my bed, but I quickly wake him up by throwing my small bag down on him. He slowly sits up and gives me a strange look, obviously unaware of the pain he's caused.
"Where were you?" I ask, begging my eyes to not cry.
"Huh?" He mutters and picks up his phone. Panic sets in on his face as he clicks the power button multiple times. "Fuck, my phone died. Shit, what time is it?"
"One. You missed everything."
"Oh, fuck, Eve." Wilbur jumps up from the bed and rushes to my side. "I'm so, so sorry."
I shove him away from me as he tries to hug me. "I can't believe you, Will!"
"Come on, baby, my phone died. I obviously didn't mean to miss your party."
I roll my eyes and step into the bathroom, followed by him. "You can't be so fucking stupid. You couldn't see that your phone was nearly dead? And you decided to take a nap before a big event? I was devastated that you weren't there. It was embarrassing. My own boyfriend couldn't show up to the biggest thing that's happened to me in my life. The thing I've been reminding him about for days and days, the thing you assured me you would be at."
"You'll have other album releases, Eve." Wilbur sighs, hanging his head back. "We got drinks after our meeting and I decided to sleep afterwards since I knew you wouldn't want me showing up to your party wasted."
I scoff as I use a wipe to remove my makeup. "Seriously, Will? You couldn't have, oh, I don't know just not gotten drunk? For one day? You knew how much this meant to me."
"Baby, come on..."
I walk past him back into the bedroom, nearly tearing off my dress and pulling on an old hoodie from high school and shorts. "I was supposed to have a great time tonight. For once, it was going to be about me, and not you. But nope, instead I had to think about you the whole time. I didn't know if you were cheating on me or in a ditch."
Wilbur grabs my hand and pulls me towards him. "I'll make it up to you, I swear."
I grimace as I smell the alcohol on his breath. Not only did he get drunk at three p.m. on a day like this, but he drank a lot. "I'm going to bed." I snatch my hand from his grasp. "I'm obviously not your top priority."
Before he can say anything else, I leave my bedroom and slam the door behind me. I go into Sofia's room where she's sitting in her bed, her hair brushed out and her clothes changed into pajamas. She sees my face, which is now crying, and pats the empty spot next to her. I crawl under her comforter and rest my head against her shoulder, my body shaking with sadness and frustration.
"I can't believe him." I whisper, my voice cracking.
"I know," She sighs, stroking my hair. "Get some rest. You've had a busy day. And when you wake up, you get to read all the amazing things people will say about your album."
I nod, but I know I won't be able to fall asleep. Instead, I stare at the book she's reading, wondering what the hell I did to Wilbur to deserve this.
