Before You

Chapter 30

My cell phone rings out loud waking me from a deep sleep. I pick it up. It's almost six o'clock in the morning. Who could possibly be calling me this early?

"Hello?" I say, trying to sound awake.

"Hello Evy. I'm sorry to bother you this early. We're having some plumbing issues in the clubhouse today, so we'll be closed until the issue is fixed. I wanted to inform you before you got up to get dressed. I'll let you know as soon as everything returns to normal," Susan says politely.

"Okay. Thank you so much for calling me. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help" I reply.

"Thank you Evy. Have a wonderful day" Susan says and hangs up the phone.

I drop my phone on the bed next to me. I'm not going to complain about having a day off. I couldn't sleep at all last night. I tossed and turned throughout the night and couldn't get comfortable. Not to mention Gage texted me and I haven't talked to Jett since he left my apartment. It's too much to think about. I pull up a song playlist on my cell phone and turn the volume up. Maybe the music will drown out all of my thoughts. Even with the noise, I feel my heavy eyes start to close. I give into it. There's no point in trying to fight it.

Ding. My eyes flicker open and I see the light that has filled my bedroom. Now what? I pick up my cell phone. It's after noon. I'm glad I have the day off. I really needed the extra rest. I scan through my phone pulling up my newest text message. It's from Gage again.

I know you miss me too. I won't stop texting you until you talk to me. – Gage

I throw my phone back onto the bed. He needs to take a hint and leave me alone. I don't want anything to do with him. The fact that I made Jett upset and now Gage won't leave me alone is too much. I need a distraction. The fruity drink, my drink, "The Everly" is the first thing that comes to mind. I jump out of bed and get dressed quickly. I look horrible. I'm wearing another black Linkin Park t-shirt and denim shorts with flip-flops. My hair is pulled up into a messy bun and there's not a trace of makeup on my face. I usually wouldn't go out into public like this, but today calls for an exception. I grab my purse and head out the door. I'll text Mason for the ingredients on the way to the store.

An hour later I walk back into my apartment. I made it to the liquor store and back faster than I imagined. I'm on a mission. I resume the song playlist on my phone and turn the volume all the way up while making my first drink in the blender. It was easier than I thought. I pour the orange fruity drink into a tall glass and take a seat on the couch. I slowly take a small sip. I close my eyes as the fruity flavor and the slight burn of the alcohol runs down my throat. It's not as good as the bartender at Barney's made it, but it's good enough. I take sip after sip while thinking about everything that's happened since I moved to Atlanta. Before I know it, I'm at the counter making my second drink. I could drink one of these every day, but I'm not going to. I don't want to be like my father, an alcoholic. I'm almost done with my second drink when my phone starts ringing.

"Hello?" I say.

"Hey Evy. I was just checking to see if you got everything you needed for the drink. How did it turn out?" Mason asks.

"Hey Mase! It's so good! I don't know what I would do without you!" I reply.

Mason laughs. "It's sounds like you're really enjoying it".

"I am. It's been a tough twenty-four hours. Not to mention, Gage won't leave me alone," I respond.

"What? What happened?" Masons asks.

"He's been texting me. He keeps saying that he wants to talk and he misses me and he won't stop until I talk to him," I say.

"What? I just saw him the other day. He didn't say anything about you" he says.