Falling Apart

Chapter 68

"Jeremy, could you maybe..."

"I can cover your shift." He smiles. He always seems to be able to take my shift, even if that means him staying here for an extra hour just waiting on tables.

"Thank you so much. I'm so sorry that I'm always asking this but..."

"Katherine, relax. I know you're stressed and you could really use time to sit down. It's probably not good for you to be on your feet all day anyway."

"I guess you're right." I shrug, looking down at my swollen feet. "Thank you, though."

"No problem." He smiles.

I walk back to the table and sit down across from Will. It feels strange to be waited on by one of my coworkers but it's nice in a way. Underneath the table I kick off my shoes and hope no one sees my swollen feet. Soon I won't be able to work these long days.

"How have you been?" I ask.

"I've been good. I know it's only been a little over a week since I saw you last but it's felt much longer. Don't you think?"

"Exactly!" I yell a little too loud. I look around me, hoping no one heard my short outburst but the only thing I can see is Will laughing in front of me. "Sorry." I giggle. "But yeah, it's felt like a while."

"I agree." He tells me. "So how are things actually going with you and David?" He finally asks the dreaded question. For a moment there I nearly forgot all about him.

"We're actually kind of seeing each other again, I think." I watch as Will's head lowers as he hears me. "He came down here a few days after I arrived, and I think he's going to stay awhile. He bought an apartment that I've been staying in, just until I can afford a place of my own. So far I'm only able to afford food and clothes, but soon I'll find a place."

"That's all...very nice." He chooses the words carefully before taking a sip of his iced tea. "Nothing has ever been able to keep you two apart, I don't know why I thought this would." This version of his smile isn't as happy as the one before only moments ago.

"I'm sorry. Well, you know how David is." I try to get him to understand but it ends up backfiring.

"Yeah I know how he is. Demanding, controlling, never able to accept the truth. What do you see in him? Do you really see a future with him and your baby?"

"I try not to think about the future as much. It just freaks me out. But lately, you're right. I'm not sure what's going to happen. So can we not talk about this please? I've missed you." I admit again. I don't think he understands what I mean. I barely understand what I mean these days.

"Sure." He lets it go, simply, in a way that David never possibly could. I hate constantly comparing the two of them but somehow I find myself doing it anyway.

Another one of my coworkers takes our order and while we wait for the food, we end up discussing how Jenna is. He finds it hard to believe that her and Ian came all the way here and Ian just left, making me realize that I haven't thought twice about where Ian has been for the past twenty-four hours.

I shake the thought away, only wanting to live in this moment. "Well I find it hard to believe that it's Valentine's Day already." I laugh and take a sip of my drink.

"Did David really not do anything? You said you two are seeing each other again, and I don't see him as someone who'd forget about you. Although, those two months..."

"He probably just lost track of time." I interrupt him. I don't want Will saying anything else that goes against David. "I didn't even know it was today, so I doubt David does. Plus, I haven't even seen him today." I add, but regret it the moment it comes out.