LOVE ME HARDER 2: STUCK WITH YOU • jb

07

"You're kidding me right?"

Kyle sat crossed legged on the couch with Coco in his lap, petting him back and forth gently as he stared at me with his jaw practically hitting the floor. His cheeks were tainted red and I could tell he was working himself up into a sweat.

It was around 9pm. After a long day of work I greeted Kyle at my home. I washed the day away in a nice hot bath, poured a glass of red wine and decided it was time to tell him the truth about Justin. It has been two days since I spoke with Justin and rekindled our friendship. I let Kyle know every detail. From when I was black out drunk, how I think I made out with  him, woke up half naked in his bed, accused him of sleeping with me. Down to when he broke into my house with roses, running into him at work and agreeing to be his friend. Being tipsy helped out with the task plenty.

"Nope, and you can't change my mind so don't you dare try."

"You're smarter than this Victoria," He sighed shaking his head back and forth. He was taking this better than I expected. "That man is no good."

"You've never even met him!" I said throwing my hands in the air .

"I know enough from what you've told me."

"Please, I was a heartbroken teenage girl. Of course I was making him out to be the bad guy. Justin was—is, as good as they come. He's kind, sweet. A true gentleman. I mean, sure he lied a lot but other than that he was perfectly fine."

I was right. During my time apart with Justin I went through a period of depression. Being alone and not being friends with anyone for a long time keeps you in your thoughts. I was a victim to overthinking. The enemy everyone should beware of. I would lay in bed if I weren't in class, sulking with my thoughts, overthinking anything that happened between my past love and I. Anything that happened between Justin and I my mind somehow twisted it into lies switching his character entirely. He was the antagonist in my newly made up story.

After I met Kyle and became comfortable enough to tell him of my past, I painted a picture of a beast. To him Justin was no longer the prince charming, but he was the Evil Queen.

"I don't know. This doesn't seem like a very good idea." Kyle moved Coco off of his lap and moved closer to me, placing his hand on my knee. "I don't want to see you get hurt again."

"There's nothing to worry about. Justin and I are friends. Nothing more I promise."

But even I wasn't convinced that promise would be easy to keep.

•••

Central park was a fairly calm environment when need be. It was a sight for many tourists from all over the world. New York City in general was, but Central Park was historic. 842.6 acres of land stretched out for 2.5 miles right in the center of Manhattan. I didn't come often because the buzz of people gave my anxiety a reason to come out and play. However, being the new owner of a sweet puppy I basked in all the glory of the green park.

With his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth and panting excitedly he enjoyed his newfound freedom. I figured he was tired of being cooped up in the house because of my busy schedule, so I decided to take him out. It was a bright Tuesday afternoon and Dr. Jones closed up the office earlier than normal because of a few canceled appointments. I wasn't going to complain and my annual salary wouldn't be affected.  It all seemed too good to be true. Just as Dr. Jones dismissed us my phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number and I'd be lying if I said it didn't have any reason to do with why I was here.