Can't Fight the Moonlight

10

I ignore the now rapid ringing of my doorbell and pull my blanket tighter around me, further caccooning myself. Shortly after the doorbell finally stops ringing, my phone starts. I slide the red button across my screen without checking who the caller is. I have a pretty good guess it's one of the two blondes standing on my door step right now. Wouldn't matter if it wasn't though; I don't feel like talking to anyone right now anyways. The only people I want around are Jack and Ben and Jerry.

I roll over to face the back of the couch and try to remember how happy I was just two nights ago, but it's already hard to get back in touch with those feelings. Maybe it's my sour attitude today that keeps making me replay Luke telling me about his wife kissing him every time I try to remember my night in Cincinnati. Or maybe it's the latest round of internet haters that won't let me forget I'll never be good enough to replace the perfect Caroline Bryan.

"Word of advice," I hear Miranda call from the door soon after I hear it open, " if you're gonna try to lock someone out of your house, make sure that person doesn't have a key."

"Thanks, I'll remember that next time," I mumble. I swipe under my eyes before they enter the living room even though I know they'll be able to tell I've been crying anyways.

Miranda heads straight for the kitchen. I hear her banging around, opening cabinets and setting stuff out. I don't bother sitting up to see what she's doing. Brittany comes to sit on the edge of the couch next to me. She cuts her eyes back at the kitchen before leaning in close and lowering her voice.

"Luke's worried about you, ya know." I grunt in response. Not only am I not sure what to say, but just hearing his name is making me tear up again. "He says you've been ignoring his calls."

"I've been ignoring everyone's calls," I grumble.

"Cat," Brittany hisses. I roll over to finally face her. She has her eyes slightly narrowed at me and her lips pursed. I sigh knowing I've already lost this one. "Is this about Cinci?"

"No," I scoff. Brittany narrows her eyes at me until they're practically slits. "Maybe."

"I know you're not wallowing around your house over someone else kissing your boyfriend when he showed you who has his heart."

"First of all, I'm not wallowing." Brittany pointedly drags her eyes up and down my burrito like form. I roll my eyes and continue with the rest of my rebuttal. "Secondly, it wasn't just someone else. It was his wife. Who's always around and doesn't seem to want to get divorced anymore and doesn't want anyone to know they're separated." I hold up a finger to silence Britt when she opens her mouth to fight me. "And third, I don't have his heart. I have his dick."

It's Brittany's turn to roll her eyes now. "Oh please. And what happened when you went back to that hotel room again?" Thankfully, Miranda walks over and hands me a fresh glass of what smells like whiskey, effectively shutting up my other best friend from making any more arguments. I sit up and sip my drink, coughing a little when I realise just how little mixer Miranda added, and try not to let my mind drift back to the hotel room in Cincinnati, to that beautiful surprise. There's no need in rehashing it, now. It's too painful a memory to hold onto knowing our relationship is doomed. There's no way Luke could ever publicaly date me now.

"Alright, I'm just gonna say it," Miranda blurts as soon as her own glass leaves her lips. I suck in a breath, ready for her to tell me that Brittany's told her of Luke's and mine affair. "Fuck those haters online. They don't know what they're talking about."

"Maybe not," I exhale. Brittany nudges my shoulder to let me know she agrees with Miranda. "But they've still managed to ruin my reputation. I'm a joke."

"No you're not," both of my best friends exclaim at once.

"Yes, I am! They called me a country Kardashian!" Miranda stiffles a laugh. "See!"