Before You

Chapter 63

My eyelids slowly separate and I see a small glimmer of light before me. Quickly, I shut my eyes back together. My head is throbbing and I don't have the energy or motivation to move at all. This is why I don't drink. I feel absolutely awful. I don't understand how anyone could do this on a regular basis. My hand finds my forehead and I rub my temples gently in an attempt to make my head feel better. I'm going to need something stronger. I stumble into the kitchen, take two Advil, and make my way back onto my bed. As soon as my body touches the bed my phone rings. It's Mason.

"Yeah?" I say into the phone.

"Do I have to ask?" he says.

"No." I drag out my response. "I feel absolutely awful."

Mason laughs. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Well, Happy Thanksgiving anyway."

"Thanksgiving?" I repeat. "Oh my gosh, that's right. Today is Thanksgiving."

"You say that like there's something major happening." He responds.

"Yeah." I say. "Well...I'm meeting Jett's family today."

After a short pause Mason speaks up. "What? You said that you two aren't together anymore."

"We're not." I say. "It's a long story. We're not together, but I'm going to his families house for Thanksgiving dinner."

"Evy, I don't think that's a great idea." He says. "What do you think is going to come out of that? It's just a way for him to try and get you back."

I think about Mason's words. I don't know what Jett's reason is for inviting to Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe it is a way for him to try and get me back. Would it work? Do I want to get back together with him? Sure, he changed his mind this time, but would he just shut me out again in the future? I don't know where this is going to go. I have no expectations.

"Mason, I don't know what his reasoning is." I reply. "His mother invited me before we broke up. She's such a nice woman and I... I honestly don't want to spend Thanksgiving alone. There's nowhere else for me to go."

"Evy, you can..." Mason begins.

"Mason, I need to be honest with you." I speak up. "I love Jett. I know you don't want to hear that and I don't want to hurt you, but you need to know where I stand. I love him. But I also know what I deserve. I broke up with him because I know my value. I don't know what's going to come from this dinner, but I am glad that I got an invitation. I won't be spending Thanksgiving alone. I'm not stupid. I would hope that you know me better than that. There's too many things that have happened to make me just jump back into a relationship with him. I don't have any expectations. I'm just taking one day at a time."

"That's the smartest thing I've heard you say in awhile." He says calmly.

"What?" I ask.

"You're right. I don't want to hear that you love him." He says. "But I'm happy to hear that you're using your head and being realistic. Just do me a favor?"

"What?" I say.

"Don't give your time to another "Gage". It's too important." He says plainly.

Hearing Mason speak about Gage puts my situation into perspective. I just had thoughts myself about the similarities between Jett and Gage. The fact that Mason sees them too makes me feel uneasier.

I look at my phone. It's two o'clock in the afternoon. "I have to get dressed. I'll call you later?"

"I'll be waiting." Mason says.

"Bye." I say and end the call.

I have plenty of time to get dressed, but I don't want to be in any rush. I take a long shower, blow dry my hair, and sort through clothes in my closet. I decide on a gray poncho sweater, black leggings, and brown boots. My makeup looks flawless and I'm wearing just the right amount of jewelry. Jett never said if this was a dressy dinner and I don't know his family, so I'm taking a chance. He also never said if I'm driving there or if he's picking me up. Suddenly, I remember that we broke up. I'll probably need to drive myself. I should verify just to make sure. I find my phone and dial his number.