Free Euphoria by Erin Noelle Page B

more I thought about it, the more it began to eat at me. I picked up my phone and typed out a text.
     
    ME: Hey man just thought I’d check in on you and the boys.
    CRUZ: Doing good. Hows you Rat boy?
    ME: Better every day. I’m writing more music than Jobu’s Rum will know what to do with
    CRUZ: Awesome. Can’t wait til ur home
    ME: Hows Bastian doin? Plz tell me hes getting some help.
    CRUZ: Yeah he got real freaked out after Miami. Hes not in a place or anything but hes seeing someone and he’s been clean as far as I know.
    ME: That’s what I wanted to hear. Tell everyone I said what’s up. I’ll see y’all in a couple of months.
    CRUZ: Will do. Can’t wait.
     
    An overwhelming feeling of relief came over me after reading Cruz’ texts about Sebastian; everything seemed to be falling into place for me. I had made things right with Scarlett, my friends were getting their shit together and ready for me to return, and the drive to make music was stronger than it had ever been. I was actually starting to believe that I deserved to have things work out for me. Maybe I could learn to love myself after all.
     
    SCARLETT
    After I left the center, I couldn’t stop thinking about the things that Heather had said in the session Mason and I had with her, especially the part about learning to love myself. If you had asked me prior to that conversation if I loved myself, my answer would have been “sure I do,” but once I really started thinking about it, I began to question it. Did I love myself? Did I respect myself? Did I truly appreciate the person that I was?
    Sighing aloud as those thoughts continued to assault my mind while I sat bored at work, I decided that I was in desperate need of a Chocolate Bar rendezvous with Max. Since we lived together now and talked to each other regularly at the apartment about what was going on in our lives, we had ditched our weekly dates at the dessert shop, but I was in desperate need of some chocolate, a latte, and some good advice. I texted him a message asking if he wanted to meet up there after I got off. He responded quickly, like he always did, that he would see me there.
    As soon as I locked up the music store, I headed straight there, anxious to talk to Max about my visits with Mase. Walking through the glass doors, I grinned as I saw him waiting at our old table. Hurriedly, I walked over to him and threw my arms around his neck.
    “Well, I’m glad to see you too, sweetheart ,” he said with the emphasis on the nickname.
    I jokingly gave him a mean face as I sat across the table from him. “Hey assface , so glad you could make it.”
    “Assface? Really Scarlett, are you twelve?” He started laughing hard at my comment which in turn made me get the giggles.”
    “I have no idea where that came from, but I’m kinda liking it,” I teased. “It suits you.”
    “No it doesn’t,” he protested, rubbing his hand over his face. “My face is quite gorgeous, if you haven’t noticed.”
    “Nope, haven’t noticed,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
    We continued to pick at each other back and forth for several minutes until he finally got serious and asked, “Okay Scarlett, really, why did you text me here? Something’s gotta be up. Talk to me.”
    I drew quiet and looked down at my half-eaten chocolate covered twinkie, contemplating just how I went about saying what I needed to say.
    Not coming up with any way to ease in the conversation, I looked up at him and blurted out, “I’ve been seeing Mase.”
    His back straightened, his eyes got big and he pounded his fist on the table, startling me. “Damn it, what in the world is wrong with you? Why would you cheat on Ash, Scarlett?”
    “It… it’s not what you think, Max,” I stuttered. “I didn’t mean like seeing him … I’ve been visiting him in rehab.”
    He relaxed a little in his chair, but I could tell he still wasn’t pleased. “I’m guessing you haven’t told Ash.” I shook my head no. “And I’m