Forbidden Fruit (gxg)

Part 32

The day that Kori wound up telling me that she couldn't talk to me anymore was worse than the night I told her I needed a break.

For the next week after that, I pretty much holed myself up in my room. But there was a certain sense of relief there, knowing that I only had to be there for myself at the moment.

Even though I really didn't even know how to do that.

I was texting Kori, and I had a couple of short phone conversations with her as she was driving home from work, but after about 10 days of doing that, she called me and she didn't sound happy.

I was sitting up in my bed as she said, "Ash, I can't do this. I can't talk to you but not see you, or be able to touch you or kiss you. I am extremely torn up over this, and I have to protect my peace at least a little bit. It kills me to do this, but I can't keep talking to you right now."

Hearing that almost took my breath away.

She continued, "If you really need me, of course I'm here. If you're ready to get back together, I'm here. But during this interim...I have to do this."

I was choked up as I said, "I understand, Kori."

"That's all? I was hoping you'd...never mind," Kori sighed, "I'll talk to you later, Ash."

If I thought I'd felt numb before, nothing compared to how I felt when I got off that phone call with Kori.

Did I ruin everything between us?

Jesus Christ, what the fuck is wrong with me?

That night I was in one of the lowest places mentally I'd ever been in.

Something needs to change here. And I have to do it myself. I can't keep living like this anymore.

As my mind raced, Alyssa called me.

I answered, "Hi."

"Ash, I'm coming over," Alyssa said to me in a firm tone, "I need to talk to you."

"I'm not really in the place for guests."

"I don't care. I'm coming over," Alyssa said, "If I have to sit in your bed with you, so be it."

I wasn't used to Alyssa sounding so firm with me.

"Fine," I said, "I'll see you soon."

Alyssa was at my apartment a half hour later, and I let her in when I heard a knock on the door.

I was alone at the apartment. Trey was at work, and Rachel was with a guy she was newly dating, who she'd been spending most of her free time with.

Alyssa looked at me and said, "Ash...you don't look well."

"I don't feel well," I responded.

"Let's go to your bedroom," Alyssa said.

Unlike me who was once again in one of Kori's hoodies and biker shorts, Alyssa looked super cute in a short sleeved floral sundress. With her now being close to 6 months pregnant, she had a cute little baby bump.

When we got into my room, I shut the door and sat down on my bed. Alyssa sat down right next to me and said, "I've been concerned about you. I'm not the only one."

"What do you mean?" I glanced at her.

"Trey messaged me on Facebook. I'm not even friends with him on there. He's very concerned about you, Ash. He said you've barely left your room for days. So am I. I'm sure Kori is too, right?"

When Alyssa mentioned Kori, it was like a dam burst. All of a sudden, I started crying, and Alyssa asked me, "What's going on, did you two break up?"

Through tears, I explained what was going on to Alyssa. I told her that I needed time alone, and that just a couple of hours before, Kori told me that she couldn't talk to me anymore.