Present Perfect(71)

“I got to call bullshit on that one. We’ve been here over a month and I’ve heard you crying at least once a week and…um… what’s with the sleeping around?”

I choked on my wine when I heard the words come out of her mouth. “Excuse me?”

“I just didn’t peg you as being a sausage biscuit.”

“A what?”

“A sausage biscuit. You seem to open your biscuit for every sausage you meet.”

“No, I don’t!” I wasn’t really offended by her. I was more shocked that I gave out that impression. I wondered if other people thought that.

“You and I have gone to four parties since we’ve been here and you’ve already hooked up with three different guys that I know of. You’re either trying to forget someone, get even with someone, or you’re just a good old fashion sausage biscuit. I add the crying into the mix and I figure you’re trying to forget someone.”

I took a long sip of wine and tried to decide whether I wanted to share all that was Noah with her. I’ve always had a hard time opening up to people. Noah was the only person I did that with. Maybe if I talked to Lisa, get it out in the open, the pain would hurt less.

“His name was Noah, we grew up together as best friends, and now we’re not.” I took a gulp of wine. It felt good to open up.

She sat up and pointed her finger in my direction. “You listen to me, beotch. I did not open this five dollar bottle of wine for the abridged version of your high school heartache. Details. Now.”

We stayed up late that night, drinking wine and talking. I told her most of the details of my life with Noah. It was a relief to talk about it. Lisa was great. She listened, but never judged.





I had slept with two guys and made out with one since moving here. I met all of them at frat parties that were thrown every weekend. I had moved in the weekend before classes started. Lisa was a sophomore, so she already knew a good many students here. She invited me to a party one of her friends was throwing. I went only because I thought it would be good bonding time for us. Besides, I needed a Brad replacement. I still craved that momentary relief that came with being with a guy.

I didn’t have to necessarily get drunk when I was with Brad, although it did help. These college parties were pretty overwhelming and I didn’t know anyone besides Lisa. A few drinks helped loosen me up, so it had become a weekly activity. It didn’t interfere with my grades, so no harm was done. I had no problem approaching guys after a drink or two. I didn’t just pick random guys. I would study the crowd for a little bit. I had to be attracted to them somewhat and feel reasonably safe.

I met Matt at the first party I went to. He was cute. Black hair, dark brown eyes, tall, fairly good body. He didn’t have muscles and wasn’t toned like Noah or Brad, but that didn’t really matter. He was kind of funny, at least he thought he was. The first weekend I was here we met, got drunk, and hooked up. There was no awkwardness in the morning because I was out of his room before he woke up. Matt was a junior theater major, so we rarely, if ever, crossed paths during the week.

The next weekend I met Jacob. Again, he was cute and we hooked up, but the next morning Jacob was under the impression we were in a relationship. Bye, bye, Jacob.

Then there was Thomas. He was a little creepy, so I just made out with him all night at one of the parties. I went back to Matt. He was tolerable, uncomplicated, and would do for the time being.





Matt and I started hanging out more than just the weekend hook up. I suppose you could say we were dating. I liked him, alright. I would never love anyone except Noah. He was the love of my life, my soul mate. No one would ever replace him.

Lisa was not happy with my choice in boyfriends. To say she hated Matt would be an understatement. She tried at least once a week to convince me to breakup with him.

“Where are you off to?” Lisa asked.

I hesitated for a minute and threw on my jacket. “Matt is picking me up and we’re going for a bite to eat. You want to go?”

I knew exactly what she would do. She’d roll her eyes, shake her head, and try to get me to come to my senses.

“Hell no, I don’t want to go eat with that asshat with his asshattery ways. Anything I ingested would come right back up if I sat across the table from him.”

“I don’t understand why you hate Matt so much. You said you didn’t know him before he and I met and he’s always been nice to you.”

“I don’t give a shit if he’s nice to me. What I don’t like is how he treats you.”

“He treats me okay.”

My stomach started to quiver. There had been a few times that Matt had been mean to me in front of Lisa, but he was under a good bit of pressure with classes and a theater production he was in.

“Amanda, he treats you like shit. The way he talks to you, calls you to go out then never shows up, flirts with other girls in front of you. God only knows what he’s doing behind your back.”

“Do you know something?”

“No.” Lisa walked over to me. “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just, you deserve better than that asshat.”

I gave her a slight smile as she drew me into a hug.

Pulling back from her, I said, “Thanks, but I really don’t.”

There was a knock on the door. Lisa crossed the room and opened it.