Sweet Consumption

Chapter 16

I wake up the next morning with the worst kind of hangover. After Sasha and I finished happy hour we decided to bring some wine back to my apartment and celebrate further. I think at some point Collin called, but I don't remember much after coming home. I only hope I didn't say anything too incriminating or confess my undying love for him. 

I hastily brush through my hair and get my workout clothes on to meet Collin in the park. Hopefully, he’ll be able to shed some light on what happened last night. I get to the park a few minutes before 8 to find John there, leaning against a tree. 

"Hey John!" I shout, running up to him, glad the cold air can zap through some of my hangover. 

"Hello, Ms. Martin. How are you feeling this morning?" His eyes are alight in humor and I know he must be referring to my bender last night. Sasha was there with me, so for all I know he could have called her as well. 

"I'm doing okay. Nothing a good run won't fix. Where's Collin?” My eyes sweep the park, but I don’t see him anywhere.

His good humor vanishes. "Well, that's why I'm here, actually."

"Oh no, I didn't say anything bad last night did I? Whatever it was, I'm sure I didn't mean it!" I plead.

He smiles reassuringly at me. "No, it's nothing like that. He had something come up this morning and couldn't make it. So, he sent me to apologize and to tell you that he would call you this afternoon.”

“Oh," I reply, deflated. "Well, I hope everything is okay?" I'm fishing for information, but if I know John, he's not going to take the bait. 

He doesn’t. ”Everything will be alright, I assure you. Do you want me to escort you home?" He offers.

I shake my head. "No, that won't be necessary. I'll just plug in some tunes and zone out for the rest of the way. Thank you though."

"No problem. I’ll see you later." 

I wave him off and feel very disappointed. I wonder why Collin didn't call me himself to tell me he wouldn't be here. I hope nothing bad has happened to him. 

I spend the rest of the day working on some recipes and calling to enroll myself in a few competitions. I still haven't heard from Collin by the time I climb into bed, but decide he will call me when he can. I'll probably hear from him tomorrow since we might be able to go out tomorrow night. 

I don't hear from Collin all day Friday and by Saturday night, I’m getting worried and a little angry. What if I really did say something to him that night or what if he changed his mind about our relationship and is going back to Mindy? My insecurities start to resurface and it wouldn't be too hard for me to believe that he would go back to her. She’s beautiful, successful and would fit right in with his crowd. I keep worrying about the dinner he invited me too and how I was going to talk to people who have a much larger view of the world. Celebrities sometimes seems so apart from the everyday life that it's hard to think how you can relate to them. Collin’s the first celebrity I’d met and I want to think the only reason that I’m able to act normal around him is because of our instant chemistry and the unique situation in which we met. Of course, none of that will matter if he decides that he’s no longer interested in me, but he could at least call me and tell me that.