Chereads / The Scoreboard / Chapter 6 - Ex.

Chapter 6 - Ex.

The last of my boxes have arrived and Ronald, being the sweetheart he is, came to help me unpack.

School starts next week and I am righteously nervous. Ronald says not to worry, that the kids will like me, but will they? I tug at my braids for the hundredth time today. Oh great, I'm going to need a new hairdo too.

Ronald isn't his usual chatty self and I'm afraid that would be because of me. I have been walking under a rain cloud for the last four days, ever since I signed the lease; the day I saw my boyfriend kissing another woman.

Ronald has tried to cheer me up when all I can offer is dry smiles to his corny jokes. Though he did make me laugh that one time.

Indrek has been making lame excuses to call me. I suspect he's trying to make sure that I don't go off the rails, which I appreciate.

"I'm hungry. Want a bite?" Ronald asks.

I glance around the room. "I'm not sure we're going to find my pots and pans today."

Ronald waves off my worry as if it was unnecessary. "I'll order a pizza. Is that okay?" He asks.

I nod giddily and go back to unpacking boxes.

When the pizza arrives, we have a semi-comfortable living room to dine at. We're arguing about what movie to watch when I get a call from Frank. I hesitate but still pick up.

"Hello,"

"Hey there. I'm on my way to your place," he says.

Okay; confession time. I did not confront Frank that day when I saw him kiss another woman. I continued his proverbial staring contest until he finally blinked.

"Don't. I'm not home," I say.

Ronald raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment.

"Well, are you coming back soon?" Frank asks.

Uh, never.

"Not really. I'm out with friends," I answer.

Ronald picks that exact time to turn on the very loud television. I glare at him and he loud-whispers a "sorry" before turning down the volume.

"Guy friends?" Frank asks.

"Yeah. Do you have a problem with that?" I counter.

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up," Frank says.

"No thanks. I'm having so much fun here," I say.

"What about me? I came all this way for you," he demands.

"You could go back," I say. Ronald is tapping his wrist and pointing at the television screen. "Bye Frankie!"

"Wait, Kayla–"

I hang up on him.

"Who was that?" Ronald asks.

"My ex," I say, taking out a slice of pizza.

"Uh, does he know that?"

I smile mischievously. "Not yet,"

I bite into my pizza with a new resolve. The same way Frank spun my world until it crumbled, I will do to him.

********

I haven't talked to Lily in a few days but I blame myself for lack of trying. The last time we talked I was about to bite her head off for telling me to break up with Frank.

I mean, he's a certified douche but who would have thought he'd cheat on me?

As it should, my stomach churns at the prospect of meeting Lily in a few seconds. Today is Sunday so I know she's chilling at home binge watching Netflix. My hand stops at the door, ready to knock. I want to, so badly. But I'm oddly scared and I want to put this off for later.

I take a breath and steel my resolve. I have to do this. I can't let a douche like Frank come in between me and my best friend.

I knock.

It takes an excruciatingly painful fifty-three seconds before she answers the door for me to consider my options.

1. Run away and live my life as a coward.

2. Apologize now and be done with it.

As hard as it is, I pick option 2.

My knees turn to jelly when she opens the door and I have the sudden urge to cry on her shoulder.

The smile that two seconds ago graced her features is replaced with a frown.

I want to vanish into the earth.

In stead, I raise a bag of baked goodies and say, "Please forgive me. I've brought pastries to bribe you,"

Lily raises an eyebrow.

I groan. "Fine. I'm sorry I let my love for Frank get between us. I'm a trainwreck in heels and I'm not above using your favorite treats to placate you," I say. My cheeks are red and hot from embarrassment and my throat burns like I'm about to cry again.

Lily sighs and rips the bag from my hand. "You are an idiot," she says.

"I know," I reply.

"And immature," she adds.

"It's been established," I comment.

"And shouldn't be allowed to date," she adds.

"Okay, let's not get crazy," I say.

"And you give crappy apologies," she continues.

I shrug, a smile on my face. "Okay, I'll give you that,"

"But you pick out my favorite foods," she adds.

I pretend to dust myself off.

"And I happen to love you,"

I engulf her in a hug that lasts all of five seconds before she says, "If you crush my food I'm kicking you out of here,"

I let her go but hold her hand as she leads me into her apartment. We sit on her couch and watch more Netflix until she decides to turn off the television and grill me for information.

"Tell me everything about the Arsenal guy," she says.

"There's not much to say. Indrek's a great guy with great manners and an obnoxious personality that has grown on me," I tell her.

"Indrek, huh? First name basis already?" Lily asks, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"We're friends," I assure her. "Besides. I'm not in the mind space to date right now. Frank's juju did a number on me,"

"I thought you said he was small," Lily says with a puzzled look.

"I mean the brain washing, you perv!" I say, hitting her with a pillow.

"Oops. My bad," she says with a straight face.

"I am serious, though. I'm going to take a break from dating. Love and me mix about as well as oil and water," I tell her.

Lily bites into her donut. "See, you say that, but you don't have a great track record for staying single,"

I scoff. "Yeah right! Name one time,"

Lily clears her throat. "I'll start with my personal favorite; the arrival of Franklyn,"

"Okay so maybe I don't have the best track record," I say. "But Frank fooled us all, "

"Not me," Lily says, waving her donut in my face. "One look at that hairline and I said Nuh uh!"

I laugh. "Come on. It wasn't that bad,"

Lily squints at me. "The key to lying is telling a lie so well that you believe even yourself. Tell me, Kayla. Do you believe your words?"

I excuse myself to use the washrooms and take a longer time than usual to keep away from my BS-sniffing bestie.

I'm washing my hands when Lily calls my name.

"Kayla!" She says. "Kayla come here now! Kayla, I'm super serious!"

I dry my hands and exit the washroom.

"What's up?" I ask, slowing my strides towards her.

"Did you ask Indrek about his relationship status?" Lily asks.

"No, why?"

Lily doesn't need to answer. I can read her tablet screen from here.

'Star Football Player, Indrek Ivanov and his long-term girlfriend, Katherine Beckett announce the end of their three-year relationship. '