42. Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Willow
After I text Tripp to let him know I'm home, I turn my phone off. I open the door to see Emilie sitting in the kitchen, a box in front of her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I saw Dexter showed up to your dinner. Tripp also texted me, telling me you might need a friend."
"You have friends in town…"
"We had a full weekend, even without me staying there tonight. Believe me, you're sort of doing me a favor. Had my fill." She winks at me.
I have no words. From Emilie cutting her weekend short to Tripp telling her I might need someone. I walk to her, and she hugs me. She rubs my back, and we stay like this for a minute.
"I brought cookies. The ones you like with the stupid thick buttercream. Do you want to get cozy on the patio?"
"Sounds perfect."
After hashing everything out, from Dexter showing up, to the paparazzi nightmare, we've each eaten almost the entire box of cookies.
"Were you scared?" Emilie asks, her voice gentle .
"For a few seconds. I thought I was going to get swallowed by the crowd. Like everyone would forget I was there, and I'd get trampled or something. It was nowhere near that dramatic, but that's what it felt like. For a blip, at least." I can be honest with Emilie, and she won't judge.
"I would've been scared. People are wild cards." Emilie sums up my fear in a few short words.
"Fitting end to the Dexter date crash, to be honest."
"Dexter. Woof. That is so cringe," she says, fake-covering her eyes in embarrassment.
"Cringe is one way to put it. I was so angry. My blood felt like it was boiling. It's one thing to infringe on my personal space but Tripp and I were having such a good night. He ruined it."
"But…?" Emilie baits me.
"I also feel kind of bad for Dexter. He seems to be having a hard time. It's not like I want to fix it or be friends or anything. It's just another complicated emotion layered on top of everything else."
Emilie mulls that over and nods in understanding.
"Men like Dexter are why we can't have nice things." She bites off a piece of cookie. "Are we mad at Tripp?"
"I'm mad. Disappointed. Sad. I don't understand why he can't pause for a second. This isn't the first time he's gotten into it when we've been out."
"But if we're keeping score, he didn't punch Dexter in the face, even though he probably wanted to."
"We shouldn't keep score, but you're right. He didn't."
"Lo, feel all the feelings. There's no right way to feel, whatever you're feeling is valid," she says with such conviction. "The thing you have to remember is they won't last forever."
"You are too wise for your age. Honestly," I say while I wrap a blanket around my shoulders .
"Long time therapy-goer, like my whole life." She puts her hand up like she's proud to be in the club. "Here's the thing, Tripp has never had to deal with the press like you. He's probably had other times, just like tonight, when his tactic worked."
"Yeah. Maybe."
"That man might be as thoughtful as they come. His intentions were probably good. That doesn't mean they were right."
"Damn you, Emilie. That's so good." I sigh. "I'm glad I gave myself the space without Tripp tonight. With Dexter, I always put myself second, did whatever I thought was best for him. That never worked out because turns out, we were both putting me second."
"Space isn't bad either. Seems like everyone needed some time to reflect. I'm sure you guys will talk tomorrow. Switching gears, what are you going to do about Dexter?"
"I hope I don't have to do anything. I don't think he'll try to contact me again."
"I can't believe he told you he still loved you. Bold."
"I honestly don't think he does. It's the whole him seeing me with someone else. I hadn't heard from him until pictures and news about Tripp and me started making their rounds. He wants to put his hooks in me, think there's something there, but I know there isn't. When we first broke up, this would've worked, which scares me."
"Scares you?"
"I just would've bought it. It feels like I've not been with someone who has been good for me. Until now. Tripp is thoughtful, hardworking, and he looks at me in this way which makes me feel like I'm worth it. He gives and doesn't only take. The man has put everything into perspective for me. Maybe that's another reason I'm being so hard on him about tonight." The realization lifts a piece of the weight from my chest .
"I really like Tripp. He's not at all what I expected. In a good way," she says.
"I don't know what I expected but it's better."
"If Tripp has some single friends on the team who are like him, I'd be interested," she says, laughing at the end.
The next morning, I decide to do yoga by the pool before my morning swim. The pool is heated, and the air is chilly: a stellar combination. Plus, I love the feeling of an October morning.
When I'm dried off, I go inside to have breakfast with Emilie. She's making pancakes and dirty chai lattes. The spicy smell of the tea pairs perfectly with the buttery smell of the batter.
"It's early and so much has already happened," Emilie says, handing her phone to me.
It's a Google search for "Dexter Stone" and it has the most recent headlines:
The Girl Is Mine! Tripp and Dexter Face Off for Willow
Dexter Stone crashes Willow's Date- He's Not Over Her!
Bye, Bye Dexter! is my favorite because it's accompanied with a photo of Seth leading him out of the restaurant.
"Again, this man has been in the press more since our breakup than our years together." I roll my eyes and hand back the phone.
She points. "Those were delivered this morning."
There's a bouquet of yellow peonies on the counter. Flowers that weren't there when I went out to the patio an hour ago. Flowers so bright it's hard not to smile when you see them.
"Who are those from?" I ask.
She gives me a side-eye look. "You know who they're from. There's a card."
I reach into the flowers and pull out what is a folded piece of paper. A note from Tripp.
Lo – I'm sorry about yesterday. I know we need to talk about it, but I want to give you time. Let me know when you're ready.
If you're interested, I do have a possible adventure for us. Next week is a bye week which means I'll have a free weekend. Think about it and let me know.
xx- Tripp
Me
the flowers are gorgeous. Thank you.
also got your note. I'd like to take the day to decompress. Turn my phone off, work on some music, and try to miss out on the barrage of headlines surely floating around already.
Let's chat tomorrow. I can come to your apartment after practice, if that's okay.
Tripp
That's more than okay. See you tomorrow.