Page 92 of Trial and Error

“Talk about an ambush…” I muse, and he grimaces.

“Yeah, I thought it might be the only way you’d see me.”

I shake my head. “No, that’s not true, and I think you know that. I’d have come to see you if you’d have asked.”

He nods. “Yeah, I know.”

“So, what’s new with you?” Malik asks, breaking the tension.

I tilt my head to the side. “I don’t know if I want to get into that with you, given how it turned out last time.” He looks away sheepishly. “But I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that it’s not going great right now.”

Malik frowns. “That doesn’t make me happy, Bids.” He clears his throat. “Listen, I fucked up, and that’s on me—I always want you to be happy.”

“What’s going on?” Imani asks.

Being here in our place makes all the happy memories come flooding back like a tidal wave, and I find myself telling them everything. It’s hard opening up to them, but there’s something healing about this moment—about the three of us reconnecting again.

“What do you want to happen?” Imani asks, “What would make you happy?”

I sigh. “Being with him.”

“You can still be with him, right?” Malik says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, like it’s so easy.

I nod. “I guess I just wish that I could meet him for the first time all over again—do it right this time.”

“Well, maybe that idea isn’t so farfetched,” Imani pipes up. “Maybe you can have a do-over.”

“I doubt that’s going to happen.”

“Oh…” she hums. “I wouldn’t cross it off completely. You never know what’s around the corner.”

elias

This sucks.

I suck.

Bridget hasn’t replied to any of my messages, and I guess that’s telling. They didn’t come across as desperate as I felt, and I only know that because I’m currently sitting on the couch at my brother’s place while Isobel and Avery dissect my messages.

When I came over after almost two weeks of sulking, Avery was already here, and in order to explain why we were fighting I had to tell her the truth.

She was hurt I didn’t tell her but she was more upset at what I had done. Yeah, you and me both, I thought.

“Okay, so it’s not completely unhinged…” Avery mumbles. “A little sad boy, maybe, but that can be endearing…” She pauses. “Would Bridget find it endearing?”

I shrug, because I wouldn’t know.

Isobel side eyes me and huffs out a breath. “Have you tried calling?” I nod. “No answer?”

“I only called twice. I didn’t want to seem like a complete loser.”

“I’m not sure calling is the reason you’re a loser,” Avery mumbles under her breath. “Pretty sure you’re just a dumb idiot.”

“I can hear you,” I grumble.

“Good.”

Oscar looks over from where he’s sitting in the armchair with an amused look on his face. “Don’t want to sound like an asshole⁠—”