Overjoyed

Chapter 27 - All of my flaws

After a solid hour of whining to Court about how humiliated and pissed off I was, she’d had enough. “That’s it” she said, comically throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation, “I’m taking you out to get wasted!”

That was an understatement.

I got completely trashed, and needless to say, woke up the following morning with a splitting headache. Dan had texted me, to recount the events of the drunken booty call I’d made to him, halfway across the country. He had found it hilarious, and even humoured me a bit before telling me to go to bed. Also, to add to my list of humiliations, I had told him I love him. Oh God. He played it off telling me that he too loved everyone and everything when he’d had a few too many. That didn’t help a bit, I was horrified. Strangely, there was a slight pang in my chest because he’d laughed it off. Did I love him? He obviously didn’t love me.

I didn’t have much time to ponder because my phone rang. “Eliza, you must come home” Aunt Maria’s voice boomed as soon as I answered. “What, why?” I asked, my head throbbing. “Your mother has asked to see you. She isn’t well, mi hija. I don’t think she has much time left” she said, sadness lacing her voice. I sighed to myself. “I’ll be there Friday, tia” I mumbled. I knew what this meant. I couldn’t go with Dan.

I dreaded the call I was about to make. Speaking to Dan would feel incredibly awkward after my slip of the night before, but I had to tell him that he didn’t need to come down to Michigan that weekend to get me, since I wouldn’t be going with him. I dialled his number and waited with bated breath. “Hi” he said happily when he answered. “Hey” I said nervously, the sound of his voice warming my insides. “How are you feeling? Is your head okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to take care of you” he said, concerned. ‘Why did he have to be so fucking adorable?’ I thought to myself. “I’m okay, my head hurts a bit though” I mumbled. “Take some medicine, okay love?” he said. The hard part was about to kick in. “I called you to tell you I can’t come with you to London anymore” I said sadly. “But Eliza, I thought? Why?” he asked, sounding disappointed and confused. “I have to go back home to Denver. It’s my mom” I whispered. “I can’t come with you?” he asked nervously, as if anticipating rejection. I hadn’t even considered it. “You’d want to?” I asked, genuinely surprised. “Yes, that is if you want me to” he said. I smiled. Of course I wanted him to. “Yes, of course baby!” I said, a little too eagerly and Dan let out a relieved laugh. “But what about working on new material over in London?” I asked, my excitement dying down. “We’ll still go Lize, and if you can’t I’ll fly back for a little while. Besides, I want to meet my girlfriend’s family” he said shyly. I beamed like an idiot; he’d called me his girlfriend. My heart filled with a beautiful feeling. Love? Joy? Awe? I wasn’t sure, but it might’ve been all three.