A Man Like Aaron Ashgrove

Chapter Eight

"I fucking hate men!" Libby tells us for the tenth time tonight as we peer down from the balcony of Melany's luxurious duplex.

She takes another swig from her Budweiser and grimaces, just as Hannah snatches the bottle from her hands.

"Hey-" she protests drunkenly.

"That's enough for tonight, don't want you jumping off this balcony." Hannah says.

Libby runs her hand through her already disheveled looking wig, I can't help but notice how disoriented she looks.

Love will do that to you, especially the kind of love she has with Devon.

"That fucking asshole," she cries. "Who the fuck lies about their sick grand mother just so they can go get some ass. Why couldn't I just have been gay"

Aria, Hannah's of and on girlfriend, nearly spits her drink out as she starts laughing.

"If you think dating men is hard try dating a woman." She says.

"Trust me Aria nothing is worse than dating men." I tell her.

If reincarnation is real I must have done something absolutely terrible in my last life because I just seem to have the worst luck with men.

After my phone call with Aaron on Monday, I've heard nothing from him.

Not a phone call, not even a text.

Nothing.

At first I thought he was probably busy, he had after all gone to Colombia for business.

But today being wednesday I've come to the conclusion that I've probably been ghosted.

I fucking hate men.

"Everything ok?"

It's Melany, standing by the doorway a concerned look on her face.

From downstairs I can make out the lyrics of Drake's nice for what.

I kind of feel bad that Instead of celebrating her birthday with her like we'd come to, we're out her consoling Libby. Who had gotten a call from her cousin while we'd been partying inside, that Devon was in Miami with some unknown lady, when he'd told Libby he was going to see his sick grandmother there.

Melany takes tentative steps towards us. "So were you able to get through to him?" She asks Libby.

"The Mf turned off his phone."

"Oh shit, that means it really is him in Miami." She wraps a comforting hand on her waist as Libby rest her head on her shoulder.

"Once he gets back it's over, for real this time."

All of us throw a doubtful look her way. I'm tempted to roll my eyes because if I know Libby as well as I do it's never going to be over.

"I'll kick his ass to the curb, and maybe I'll become celibate. Or date a white guy."

Hannah tisks "judging from Yasmines experience I don't think the grass is greener over there."

I want to stomp Hannah's feet with my three inch heel so bad right now.

But instead I rub my hand on my forehead trying to ease the crease I'm sure is there. Sure Libby is open about her personal life, but she and I are not thesame. I don't want Melany or Aria knowing about my personal life.

Melany Leans in closer to me like she's ready to get all the juicy info. "Yas are you seeing someone? And he's white!"

I want the ground to open and I want it to swallow me whole.