Free The One Left Behind (The One Series) by Lena Nicole Page B

It’s a gorgeous day without a cloud in sight, which is exactly what I need to help get me in better spirits.
    It’s been three long days since Addison gave me the ring back. I haven’t looked at it since I stored it in my desk. I feel like it’s boring a hole in my drawer, but I refuse to dig it out and open up that fresh wound again. It’s best to just leave that one alone.
    Addison said she wanted to be friends, but she hasn’t reached out to me at all. Friends call each other to talk, right? So why wouldn’t she call me just to chat? Because she doesn’t know or remember you, idiot. After I give myself a scolding and take a deep breath and set my coffee down, I decide to call her.
    The phone is ringing as I begin to bounce my knee up and down nervously. I have to wipe my hands on my jeans because they’re so sweaty. I want to see her, but what if she doesn’t want to? I’m not sure how much more rejection I can take from her before my heart stops beating all together.
    On the third ring she answers, “Hello.” She says it a little hesitantly and it hurts that she’s not comfortable with me.
    “Hi, Addison. It’s Colin. How are you?” I say, trying to keep my voice upbeat and hide the pain.
    “I’m fine, just waking up. How are you?” The image of her just waking up with her hair messed up and her eyes half shut from sleep is enough to make me weak in the knees. She would always do this cat-like stretch, arching her back with a small smile on her face and her eyes closed. I really miss waking up to her face in the mornings.
    “I’m doing pretty good, just staying busy with work, you know?” She doesn’t need to know that I’ve picked up drinking as my new hobby.
    “That’s good.” There’s a long pause. God, why is it so awkward every time I talk to her? I know this woman inside and out. I know her likes, her dislikes. Hell, I know her intimately. The problem is she doesn’t remember those things about me. I have to keep reminding myself of this fact. I really hate this.
    “So, I was wondering,” I say as I start to rub the back of my neck, “would you want to get some lunch with me today? I know it’s kind of late notice and all, but if you’re available I’d love to get together with you for a little bit.” Sound desperate much? I roll my eyes at how pathetic I must sound to her.
    “Uh, I can’t today. Sorry.” Not the answer I was really expecting.
    “Oh, okay, no worries. Maybe another time.” This time, I can’t hide the pain in my voice.
    “It’s not that I don’t want to,” she quickly adds. “I’ve just already made lunch plans with another friend today.”
    I feel a little better now, so I say, “Oh, are you and Colby getting together for a girl’s lunch?”
    Again, I hear the hesitation in the answer that follows. “Um, no,” she says quietly.
    I’m curious to know who she’s going with. It feels like I don’t really have the right to question her since we aren’t technically together, but it’s killing me not knowing. I don’t want to come across too pushy, overbearing, or intrusive with her either. So, against my better judgment, I ask her anyway, “Oh, with who?” I try really hard to come off as nonchalant and sound like I’m just asking as a friend. I’m not quite sure it works.
    “It’s just a friend I met randomly on the beach. His name is Pierce.”
    I’m clutching the phone so tightly I think it might snap at any minute. I feel hurt…no, I feel rage. I can’t even speak for fear of what might come out of my mouth. I instantly get up and start pacing to try to calm myself down. Seriously, she’s going out with another guy? What. The. Fuck?!
    “Maybe we can get together next weekend. Do you have any plans?” she quickly adds in. I wonder if she could sense I was about to lose my shit.
    I swallow the large lump forming in my throat from the pure resentment coursing through my body. “Sure, sounds good. I’ll call you. Look, I just