Ryan is quite popular thanks to his line of sex toys, Cinnamon Tulips Inc. A lame, tacky name, sure, but it got him to where he wants to be. Living in the finest penthouse in New York City, his bank account practically overflowing and, the best part...
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I invited Zooey to go out to lunch so we can talk about what happened last night while Brendon went to get the rest of his things from the apartment.
I've been waiting about twenty minutes, becoming frustrated that she hasn't shown up yet.
When I'm about to get out of the booth and leave, she walks in the door, her eyes searching for me. She smiles faintly in my directions and walks across the diner and sits across from me.
"Before you say anything -"
"What the fuck happened last night?" I interrupt, making her look down at her hands that are folded on top of the table. "I ask you to come over to watch a puppy and you invite someone over, trash my place, and then get mad at me?"
"Ryan, just let me explain." She says in a pleading tone. I lean back in the booth and fold my arms over my chest. "I'm sorry. I was just upset because you blew me off for Brendon."
I furrow my eyebrows at her disbelievingly.
"When you called me, after leaving me in that apartment by myself, with no answers to the hundreds of questions I had, I felt like I was whole again." She says with a crackling voice. "I thought we could be together again, like we used to be. I thought things were goo between us and then you start ignoring me again. Come to find out it's because you're dating Brendon and asked him to move in with you."
"Zooey, I'm sorry for whatever wrong signals I gave you when I called you. I just wanted to talk and catch up. Yeah, I missed you but I had no intentions on being with you that way. Sorry if it's coming off harsh, but that's the truth." I feel terrible when she wipes her cheeks, making her eyeliner smudge a little. "Brendon has been my main focus since I met him. I almost ruined it between us and when I went to talk to him about it, he told me he knew you and I asked him for your number, only so we could catch up."
"It's fine." She gives a fake smile and I sigh. "I get it. Brendon makes you happy. You deserve to be happy."
Zooey looks broken now and it's all my fault. I never cared much about anyone's feelings, but seeing her so upset is killing me.
"Would you like to order?" The waitress asks, startling me.
"I'm not hungry." Zooey says, keeping her head down.
"No thank you." The waitress gives a weird look before walking away. "Are you busy tonight?" I ask Zooey, and she looks at me with furrowed eyebrows.
"No. Why?"
"I made plans with Brendon but if you wanna hangout I can cancel. He won't mind." Zooey shakes her head and laughs.
"He hates me." She mumbles.
"He doesn't hate you. You're his best friend."
"Apparently not anymore." She says. "After last night, he'll never forgive me. I don't blame him."
