Girl Crush(52)

His laughter distracted me from the discussion, and I stopped mid-complaint to glance over my shoulder and see Collier talking to a guy in the men’s tie department. Without thought, I swirled my head around, frantically searching for a place to hide. The perfume girl’s face scrunched in confusion, but I didn’t have time to explain. Before he turned around and saw me, I dashed to the nearest rack of clothes and climbed into the center of the circle to hide inside…like I was five. Ronnie would have a field day with this scene. Thank God she wasn’t here to witness it—or worse, film it. From my vantage point, I could hear him talk and knew he hadn’t left. Thankfully, the woman hadn’t followed me to make sure I didn’t need medical or psychiatric attention. And while I huddled between the dresses, my heart pounded and my anxiety kicked into overdrive. This was insane. I was hiding in a sale rack from someone who was one of my closest friends just days ago, all so I didn’t have to address the elephant in the room.

But even the absurdity of the situation didn’t pry me from my hideout until I no longer heard him, and the toes of a pair of heels poked in under the dresses that acted as my shield. The voice came from above, startling me.

“He’s gone. You can come out now.”

Shocked, I stared up into the perfume lady’s soft gaze of pity. Yeah, it was pathetic, but she’d been nice enough not to leave me stuck here for hours. My knees wouldn’t have held out to the squat much longer. Hunched over, I parted the wall of fabric to step through and gave her a meek glance. “Thanks. I know it’s pretty pitiful.”

She shrugged and kindly said, “We’ve all been there.”

I straightened my clothes as I stood, feeling foolish when I traced the perimeter of the store for witnesses. I then, less than gracefully, excused myself after thanking her for her help. I almost returned the purse before I left since my experience had been thwarted and thus so had the high I needed to get from it.

Just as I pushed on the heavy, glass doors to leave, my cell rang. I dug it out from under the mounds of crap in my overloaded purse and answered it just before it went to voicemail.

“Hey, V. What’s up?”

“Just wanted to make sure you hadn’t flushed yourself yet.”

“I should have, it would have been far less embarrassing.”

“Somehow I don’t think giving yourself a swirly would rate high on the list of things you’re proud of.”

“No, but neither does hiding from Collier in a ring of clothes inside Macy’s.”

She roared with laughter, and I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I hated my best friend.

“You’re such a bitch, Ronnie. This isn’t funny.”

“This is Comedy Central hysterical. Just talk to him. Has he called?”

“No.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie.

“Really? You haven’t heard from him?”

“I didn’t say that. You asked if he called.”

“Oh, cut the shit, Gizzy. Enough with the semantics. Has he contacted you?”

I filled her in on the brief text exchange we’d had and then gave her details of my game of hide-and-seek, without the seek.

“You have to talk to him. You can’t just avoid him forever. Not unless you want to give up Beck, too.”

She knew I didn’t. I didn’t want to give up Collier, either. I wanted to go back in time and never turn around or press my lips to his. “It’s fine. I’ll figure it out. Just not right this second.”

We talked all the way home. She’d spent the majority of the conversation trying to convince me why I should be honest with him while I argued vehemently against telling him what a Pinocchio I was. She didn’t get it, and I got tired of trying to explain myself. So when I unlocked the door, I made an excuse to get off the phone and spent the rest of the evening miserable on my couch.

Two days later, I heard from Beck for the first time since running out of the bar.

Beck: You should come by this afternoon after work. Hang out by the pool with me. Stella is working late. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.

It had only been five days, but we hadn’t talked or texted, either. She’d given me space and hadn’t asked any questions, which I appreciated, but I couldn’t avoid her forever. Beck couldn’t help that she shared DNA with Collier.

Me: Probably not such a great idea.

Beck: He’s in Green Grove and has a dinner meeting. There’s no way he’ll be home before ten. You can come by for a couple hours and soak up some sun with me.

Me: I don’t know, Beck.

Beck: Please…

I didn’t want to become a hermit. I hated avoiding my friends because I’d created a whirlpool of deception.

Me: Fine. I’ll run by my house and then come over. But I’m not staying long. I don’t want to chance it.

Beck: Great. See you soon!

Once I got off and swung by my place to get a swimsuit, I pulled up in front of their house. Collier’s car wasn’t in the driveway, and since he wouldn’t be home before I left, I didn’t worry about parking in his spot. I’d put on the cutest swimsuit I had in hopes that feeling good about my appearance would translate into my heart not hurting quite so much. But the sight of his house, the thought of his car not being here, dampened my mood more than it should have.