Page 105 of Tell Me I'm Enough

By the end of the day, we’ve fought over countless small and unimportant things, and it feels like he wants to be anywhere but here.

We’re sitting on opposite ends of the couch watching reruns of The Game, and I just want to have a good night with him.

I get up to grab a drink, and when I come back, I try to sit closer to him, hinting at wanting to cuddle, but he seems to miss or ignore every cue.

His phone buzzes on the coffee table, and the name Emily with a shooting star emoji lights up. He grabs it and laughs to himself as he replies to the message. I put my feet up on his lap, and he finally scoots closer as he places his phone back down, wrapping his arms around my legs.

Ihatethis feeling.

Trust me, I don’twantto care. I don’twantit to bother me.

Itdoesn’tbother me…

It kinda bothers me.

We’ve always trusted each other enough that this kind of thing never mattered. And Idotrust Tyler. I just…I don’t know why I’m feeling this way all of a sudden. I have no reason to worry. He’s never broken my trust before. He’s had friends who were girls since we were younger. It’s never been an issue for us.

I just…I can’t get the feeling of jealousy to go away, and I hate it. I don’t like this feeling. I’ve never felt it before. I’ve never had any reason to feel it. I’m Simone fucking Edwards—as confident as they come. At least that’s what I like for people to think.

It’s obviously just in my head. We’ve been apart for the first time in our entire relationship, and it’s just making me feel like I need to hold on to him tighter or he’ll slip away.

He doesn’t say anything for a while, and we just go back to watching the show.

When another episode ends, he stretches and pulls me in next to him, kissing the top of my head. “I’m gonna go meet up with a couple of my old teammates from West Meck, okay?”

A wave of disappointment hits me.

“Will I see you again before Christmas? I really wanted us to go out and see some lights and go ice skating at the Ice House. You know, all the cute holiday couple things.”

He gives me a small, forced smile. “Of course, babe. We’ll try to make it happen.”

“Try?”

He huffs. “Yes, babe, try. I’ve just had a lot of friends and family to catch up with on break.”

“And all of these people are more important than your girlfriend?”

He takes my face in both of his hands and kisses me before pulling back. “Of course not. But I’m only one person, and I’m trying to keep everyone happy.”

“Well, you’re not doing a great job with me,” I pout.

He gives me a small laugh. “I’ll make it up to you, promise.”

“Mhm.”

“I love you, Simmy.”

The nickname pulls a small smile from me, and I roll my eyes playfully. “I guess I love you too, Ty-Ty.”

He stands up and reaches his hand out for me to take, and I stand too. Then he wraps me in a hug before kissing me goodbye.

For once, I want to feel the electricity between us without questioning whether it’s still there or not. I focus so much onifhe still wants me that I can’t enjoy the small moments anymore without questioning if they’re enough on their own.

After he leaves, I retreat back to my room with a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies my dad made earlier and the current book I’m reading.

In the middle of reading, my phone buzzes with an incoming call, and I reach for it, thinking it could be Tyler.

When I see Mason’s name, I’m almost…happier? I mean, I want to know how he’s doing, and I miss my friend…I missallmy college friends.