Page 126 of Tell Me I'm Enough

Simone: He told me he slept with someone else

I check the timestamps on her texts and see they were from anhour ago.

I slam my fist on the locker, pissed that I’m just now seeing them.

All the guys turn to look at me, and I just shake my head, not wanting to talk to any of them.

I throw my shirt over my head as I dial her number and then hold the phone between my shoulder and ear as I pull my pants on.

She answers on the third ring, but it stays quiet on her side.

“Simone?”

I hear a sniffle.

Fuck.

I want to get on a plane, fly to California, and beat the shit out of that kid right now.

“Hey…talk to me,” I tell her quietly as I throw my stuff in my bag, toss it over my shoulder, and head out of the locker room, not even saying bye to any of the guys.

I hear her laugh bitterly on the other end through the tears.“He didn’t even wanna break up…he’s still begging me to stay with him, Mase.”

I stop mid-stride. “And you told him to fuck off, right?”

It’s quiet for another second.

“You told him he’s out of his fucking mind,right, Simone?”

Nothing.

“Right?” I repeat, sharper.

“Fuck. Yes, Mason. I told him no. And as angry as I am…I’m fucking sad, too.”

I try to push away the anger and soften up for her. “Where are you?”

I hear her trying to stop crying.“At the dorm with Lani.”

I unlock my car and throw my bag in the backseat.

“I’m headed your way now.”

“Mason—”

“Don’t try to argue with me, Simone. You can go back to not talking to me after today and be mad again…but I’m gonna be with you tonight.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you no,”she says, laughing a little.“I was gonna say…thank you.”

When I get to her dorm, the door is cracked open, and I push it a little to see Simone curled up in the bed with Lani behind her, stroking her hair.

Lani looks up and sees me first.

“Can I have a moment with her?” I ask softly.

She nods and climbs out of the bed, telling Simone that she’s gonna head out for a little while, to text her if she needs anything, and she just nods.

Once we’re alone, I kneel in front of her and take her face in my hands, making her look at me.