Page 38 of Eight Weeks
22
Sofia
“No one can lift me, catch me the way that you do”—Still Falling For You by Ellie Goulding
I haven’t seen Aaron all week.
That’s not true. I saw him at hockey practice because Lily and I are still babysitting Brooklyn while the guys have to be there. He knew I was there… and Aaron tried his very best to ignore my existence. He didn’t even so much to look my way. Only if it was necessary, which was never.
Winter has been awfully weird to me as well. She tries to be out of the dorm before I wake up and only come back after midnight in hopes I’m asleep by that time. It’s almost ideal because I don’t want her around me either. Having her avoid me doesn’t bother me nearly as much as Aaron avoiding me does.
He wouldn’t ignore you if you told him the truth, Sofia.The whole truth.
That doesn’t matter right now. I could tell Aaron the truth knowing it wouldn’t change anything at all, or I keep him at a safe distance and avoid a second heartbreak.
As I stare at my ceiling, trying my best to fall asleep early and ignore all my problems, my phone starts to ring. For a second, I debate to ignore the call, pretend to be asleep and stay away from unwanted conversations. Just for tonight.
But when I see it’s my mother who’s calling, I don’t have much of a choice. She’ll get worried if I don’t pick up. So I do.
“I hope I didn’t wake you up,” she says, sounding far too cheery for it being six in the morning in Germany. Though, she’s a morning person, so it shouldn’t surprise me as much.
“You didn’t. What’s up?”
“Listen, your dad wants to book your flight back home. When’s your last day exactly?”
“December seventeenth.” As much as I want to leave New City and go back home, I cannot spend a whole two weeks with my familyandAaron. If he still wants to come with me, he’d be on the same flight as me. If he doesn’t decide to leave early, my dad will book my flight to New City to beafterNew Year’s, adding my time with Aaron up to over two weeks.
Two very dangerous weeks.
“Perfect. He’ll try to get you on a flight on the eighteenth then.”Perfect… right.
“Mom, I might be bringing a friend, is that okay?” I mean, I do have to ask eventually. I wouldn’t let Aaron stay at a hotel for two weeks when he’s supposed to be my fake-boyfriend. And let’s be honest, the second my mother finds out I’m bringingAaron, she would smack me back to New City if I let him stay anywhere but our house.
“A friend? Why?”
Because that shit-face of ex-boyfriend of mine is going to propose to your other daughter right on my birthday, that’s why.“We’re dating.” Can’t have her believe anything else. If my fake relationship is supposed to fool my sister and Leon, then not even my mother can know it’s only a game of play pretend.
“DATING!” I’m sure she just woke up the entire house with her scream. “Tell me more. Now. Name? What’s he like? God, Sofia, send your mother a picture next time!”
“His name is Aaron.” No need to tell her it’stheAaron yet. I’m kind of curious to know if she’d recognize him. I didn’t.
“Sofia…” She sighs heavily. “Another Aaron? You barely got over your crush on—”
“We don’t talk about that, mom. I’m going to sleep now. Have a wonderful day!” Without waiting for a goodnight on her part, I hang up the phone.
I’m not tired but listening to my mother talk about how much I used to like Aaron Marsh is not going to happen again. If I weren’t still traumatized from all the late-night-talks we’ve had about him and how much it upsets her to see me cry over a guy I don’t even know anymore… maybe it would only be half as bad.
But now that I got a date for my departure, I might as well send Aaron a text and let him know.
Sofia:Are you still interested in being my fake boyfriend for the holidays?
I don’t expect Aaron to answer me right away, but surprisingly, he does.
You’d think after he ignored my existence for a whole week, he’d at least have the decency to apologize or sound less uninterested… he doesn’t.
Aaron:Yeah, sure.
Sure? Unbelievable.
