Game Over: Life's Over

Die From Embarrassment

Theo texted Carrie that same day to see what was going on with Soleil. I hated to be so persistent and nosey but I just wanted to know Soleil was okay. Sure, I didn't want her to be mad at me or anything but her wellbeing was the top priority.

Waiting for Carrie to message Theo back felt like torture. I put away my clothes very much against my will and then went back to the living room to watch TV. I needed something to pass the time while I waited.

Turns out I'd have to wait awhile. Either Carrie wasn't a fast texter or she was busy and couldn't respond. I wanted to be mad about it but I often times didn't check my phone and would miss messages for days on end. I was trying to be better about it since I had friends again but I was blocking lots of numbers and messages and that was pretty draining.

Eric came home from work and I was still sulking. He set his bag down by the door and walked over to me. "Hey."

I sighed. "Hi."

Eric raised his eyebrows. "Everything okay?"

I paused the movie I was watching. "I haven't heard from Soleil since my party."

"Do you think she's ignoring you?"

I groaned. "Why would you just jump to conclusions like that?"

He laughed. "Because that's what you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yeah. You're very doom and gloom."

"Thanks," I said with a flat voice.

Eric sat down on the couch near where my feet were. "I don't mean to pick on you. I just think you need to try changing your mindset. Maybe Soleil is going through something that has nothing to do with you."

"I just want to know that she's okay."

He nodded. "That's nice of you. Just don't let it bother you too much. She'll come around when she's ready."

"I know." That's what sucked. I didn't like waiting. I didn't like not knowing what was happening or going to happen. That's what I hated about my condition, too.

Eric gave me a light smile. "She's lucky to have a friend as concerned as you. Most people aren't like that these days."

I knew that all too well. Alex and the other guys from the football team never reached out to me when I was first diagnosed. They didn't try to cheer me up when I was at my lowest. They just made fun of me instead.

Theo walked out from the kitchen and smiled when he saw Eric. He walked over to him and kissed him, earning a grossed-out look from me. "Hey, babe. How was your day?"

Eric looked up at him. "It was good. We got a lot done this week at work."

"You're always busy. I don't know how you do it."

"If it's not busy, it's boring. I'd rather be busy."

Theo nodded and glanced in my direction. He laughed when he saw the look on my face. "What?"

"Can you not kiss in front of me?"

Theo rolled his eyes. "He's my husband and this is our house."

"And I'm your kid. If you want to keep me from puking, you should stop."

"And not show affection for each other? I don't think that's very fair," Eric said.

"You don't have to stop. Just... go into another room." That was one of the things I liked about Mom not having a boyfriend. I didn't have to catch them making out or doing... other stuff. She could've been seeing guys outside of the house but I never knew of anyone being involved with her in that way. I almost preferred it that way. But I knew Theo and Eric weren't that type of couple so I had to compromise with them on how much I was exposed to.

"Are you embarrassed by us?"

If he meant embarrassed because they were gay, he was wrong. But if he meant because they were making out in front of me, then yeah. Dead on. "No. I just feel like I'm intruding or something. I mean, I'd never make out with Soleil in front of you guys."

Theo and Eric shared a look with each other.

Theo raised his eyebrows and a knowing smile arose on his face.

I felt my face heat up and I covered it with my hands. "Don't say it."

"That would explain why you're so worried about her," Eric said.

"That's not why. We're not even... Ugh. You guys are the worst."

They both laughed.

"It's our job to embarrass you when it comes to girls. Or guys, if that's your thing," Theo said.

I shook my head. "It's not. And I'm not into Soleil. We're just friends."

"Do you want there to be something between you two?"

"Can we stop having this conversation? I'm about to die from embarrassment."

Theo laughed even harder this time. "We can put a pause on it. Dinner's ready."

"Can I take it to my room so I don't have to talk anymore?"

"I'm afraid not."

I groaned. "I hate you guys."