Forget Me Not by Sarah Daltry Read Free Book Online

his stare burning through me and I want to
cover up.
    “ Whatever,” I say and push
past him. I need to talk to Derek, not defend myself to this
asshole. He obviously has problems.
    “ Hey, princess,” he yells
after me.
    I tell myself not to turn around as my
feet ignore my brain and do so anyway. His eyes are sparkling,
teasing me, and he takes out a pack of cigarettes, placing one
between his lips. He smiles again and winks. It is mockery in its
purest form, but it still doesn’t stop my heart from beating a
little faster.
    “ Don’t forget. 401. You
look wound up. I would be happy to help.”
    He leaves the lobby and I stand there,
irritated and also a little turned on. My boyfriend of ten months
has not talked to me in almost twenty-four hours, but this guy who
is clearly so wrong for me seems happy to pay attention. I shake it
off; I’m hormonal, but I love Derek. It might be flattering to have
this guy hit on me, but nothing good can come from dwelling on it.
Sense kicks in and I run upstairs, hoping there are
messages.
    There are twenty. Success. Apologetic
as hell, Derek’s messages explain that he had to go to a meeting
for rugby and got back late and I wasn’t online. He’d left his
phone in his car and the shuttle wasn’t running anymore so he went
to get it first thing this morning. Of course, it was dead and
since it charged, he has been calling and texting. It is
forgivable, although I am annoyed that he didn’t even send me an
email. Still, he seems contrite in his messages and I don’t feel
like fighting. The last day has been awful thinking something was
wrong.
    He picks up on the second ring when I
call him back.
    “ Lily, I am an idiot,” he
says.
    “ Yeah, you
are.”
    “ I don’t know what I was
thinking. I texted you when I got back and then I was rushing to
the meeting and I’m so sorry.”
    “ It’s fine. I’m just glad
you’re okay.”
    “ Of course I’m okay. I am
so sorry, though.”
    “ It’s fine, Derek. Shit
happens.” It isn’t totally fine, but what good will fighting about
it do? I am already sacrificing some of our weekends and I don’t
want the weeks to consist of us arguing.
    “ Are you sure?”
    “ Yeah, no problem. Next
time, text me after getting out of the car, though.”
    “ Huh?”
    “ So you don’t leave your
phone in the car.”
    “ Oh, right.” The way he
says it is dismissive, but I try to ignore it. Just as there was
with his not calling, there must be a reasonable explanation. Maybe
I’m just imagining it.
    “ Anyway, you’re lucky it
didn’t get stolen or something.”
    “ I am also lucky I have
the best girlfriend ever.”
    “ All right. Stop kissing
my ass,” I laugh. “So do you have the schedule?”
    I sit on my bed and lean back against
the wall. Just hearing Derek’s voice relaxes me and I let the day
disappear as we talk. Of course, rugby is every other weekend, but
I tell myself to be supportive. We both need to be more active on
campus. It is actually working, too, until he brings up the worst
news of all.
    “ The thing is, I can come
home for Columbus Day, but...”
    “ Don’t say it.”
    “ It’s the last match,” he
says. “If there is any way I can get out of it, I will. I swear.
But you should know now. I really will do whatever I can to avoid
it.”
    “ Derek, that’s not
fair.”
    The problem is that the last match is
three weeks after Columbus Day. The same weekend as my birthday,
meaning he won’t be able to spend it with me. It is also our
one-year anniversary. That leaves me alone for both my birthday and
our anniversary. There is nothing I can say to make this all right;
it’s unacceptable.
    “ I’m so sorry, Lily. Do
you want me to quit? I’ll quit.” Of course, I don’t really want him
to quit; I can’t ask him to do that. However, a small part of me
has to admit that I wish he would quit, so this wouldn’t be
happening. If I suggest it, though, he’ll resent me. If I say
anything, he will