Now, there was an incessant loud banging at the front door. We both shot up and out of the bed quickly. She pulled my jersey down over her thighs, a panicked look on her face. "W . . . what's happening?" She moved closer to me.
I pulled on sweatpants as she made her way over. "I don't know." My heart thundered frantically against my chest. I hadn't been this scared since I was seven.
She hugged my arm tightly and I turned to face her.
She flinched when the banging started up again.
"It'll be okay." I tried to keep my voice even, but I failed. "You need to stay here, okay?"
"No," she whined, gripping my arm tighter.
"Babe, come on."
I freed my arm from her grip, opened the drawer in the nightstand, and pulled out the handgun.
I heard her gasp.
I tried to soothe her, "It's just . . ."
She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the gun in my hand. "I get it."
I covered the few steps between us, ignoring the banging, not just at the front door, but in my chest and in my head. I kissed her once. "It's probably just my neighbors, it's fine," I lied. It wasn't them; they knew better. They'd done it once and had me answer the door with a gun in my hand. Never again.
She returned my kiss. "I love you."
I wanted to tell her I loved her, too, but the banging started again. "You have to stay here. No matter what you hear, okay? If you think you need to, call the cops."
With each step towards the front door, my feet felt heavier. By the time I was there, they were lead. The trembling in my hand against my leg caused the gun to sway from side to side.
Thump. Thump.
The blood rushed to my ears.
Thump. Thump.
I looked through the peephole.
Assholes.
I opened the door.
"I swear it, I tried not to tell him but he knew I was keeping secrets. I don't like to keep secrets, Logan."
Cameron stepped in. "You asshole." Then he saw the gun in my hand and took a step back. "Shit, dude."
After my mind and body had caught up to each other, I placed the gun on the new entry table next to the door.
"Shit," Cam said again. "Sorry, man. The loud knocking and—" He cursed under his breath. "I didn't even think." He put his fist out to bump.
I did, but I couldn't speak yet. My heart was still racing. I walked to the kitchen for a drink. They followed.
"I'm sorry," Lucy squeaked, as I ran the water to fill my glass. I drank like my life depended on it. They watched in silence.
"It's fine," I finally said. "Just don't do that shit again."
"Seriously," Cam started. "We were at this barbecue on campus and Lucy started drinking, then she told me about how you were going to fight for—" He cut himself off, conscious of the fact that I may not want to hear her name. "Anyway," he continued. "I got it out of her that you were back and then she spilled. I just had to come see it for myself. Honestly, I'm a little pissed you both kept it a secret. If I was an asshole, I'd probably accuse you two of screwing around."
Lucy started to giggle. Then hiccupped. Then giggled some more.
"She's drunk," he informed me. " It's good to see you. You're good?"
"Yeah, man," I started for the living room. "I'm good." I threw my body onto the sofa the same time as Lucy opened the curtains. The room filled with sunlight. I squinted at the sudden change.
"Dude, were you asleep? It's, like, three in afternoon. You look like shit." Cam. So observant.
"Logan?" We all paused and looked to the hallway when we heard her tiny voice.
Both their heads whipped to me. "You have a girl in here?" Lucy all but shouted.
Cameron grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Yeah, you do!" He stepped closer and raised his hand for a high five. I sat up, rolled my eyes, and gave him what he wanted.
"Logan?" Amanda said again, louder this time.
Lucy's eyes went huge. "Who is it?" She was still yelling. Standing next to Cameron, she got on her toes and whispered in his ear, "Logan has a girl in here."
Cam shook his head, his eye-roll matching mine from only seconds earlier. "I know, babe, I'm right here."
"Who is it?" she asked him.
He sighed, but didn't answer.
I chuckled to myself and yelled, "Babe, you can come out." Then a second later, "Put pants on."
Cam grinned again. "You mad dog." He was amused. I'm glad someone was.
Amanda walked in wearing a pair of my sweats and my baseball jersey.
Lucy gasped loudly when she saw her. It made Amanda stop in her tracks. Lucy's gaze went from Amanda, to me, to Cameron. "Is she real life?" she asked Cameron.
"Yes, babe. She's real." He patted her on the head.
Lucy slowly took steps closer to Amanda, as if she were a wounded animal and Lucy was her savior. Amanda’s eyebrows bunched as she watched Lucy slowly approach. Cam sat down next to me, but both of us watched the girls. Then, when Lucy got close enough, she poked Amanda on the arm. Amanda flinched, but stayed silent. Lucy hiccupped, and then narrowed her eyes. "Are you real life?" she whispered.
Amanda smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Lucy yelled, "You are real!" Then she hugged the shit out of her. "Oh my God," she said, pulling back. She touched Amanda's face with both hands. "I've missed you." Hiccup.
Then Cameron from next to me, "You guys should totally make out, that would be hot."
Amanda and Lucy snorted in unison, then walked towards the sofa. Amanda sat on the other side of me, grabbing my arm and placing it around her shoulders.
"Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhh," Lucy crooned, looking around the apartment. "Now it makes sense. You have actual furniture."
Amanda rubbed her nose on my bare chest. I still hadn't put a shirt on. "Are you okay?" I spoke into her ear.
She smiled at me, but it was forced. I lifted her chin so I could look at her properly. She still looked scared.
"We're gonna jet," Cam announced, standing up. "I just wanted to see you with my own eyes."
I stood, too, thankful that he knew well enough to leave us alone. I walked them to the door.
"Look," Cameron started. "I get that you want to lay low or whatever, but Jake doesn't even know you're here. And I mean—I don't want to tell you what to do or whatever, but if I were him, I'd be pissed if I found out you were here and didn't even bother telling your best friend. I just think it's gonna get worse with time, you know?" He ran his hand through his hair. "And you know Jake. He doesn't get pissed. He freezes you out, and that shit's not cool."
He was right. Jake didn't do openly angry or pissed often, but you knew if you'd upset him.
I nodded.
"Oh, I know," Lucy screeched. "My bonfire tomorrow night. Come! At the cabin, like old times! Remember, Logan? Remember?"
Cam cut in. "Okay Drunky McDrunkface. Time to get you home. Let's leave Logan and Amanda alone, alright?" He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Then to me, "It's not a bad idea—the cabin tomorrow night, you guys should come. It'll be a welcome home, you know?"
