Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2)

by Abby Jimenez

The only problem with anger is that it burns hot and fast. It doesn’t tend to burn long. Sadness burns long. Grief. Disappointment.

Different people had different energy demands. Some people took more from me than others.

I will however accept your invitation to be invited and never come. That sounds like an excellent time. I also enjoy not answering calls, not networking, never leaving the house, and hanging out with my dog.

Another message popped up. Briana: What r u doing? Panicking???

PLEASE this is so me

Shit. It was the Wi-Fi. My messages weren’t loading. Noooooo.

THIS IS actually insanely exactly how my brain works. Super dramatic too. I lo ve

My cell phone had only one bar unless I went over to the little cabin-themed restaurant down the street to get a signal. I was going over to the little cabin-themed restaurant down the street to get a signal.

She wanted to bring stuff back, I carried a watermelon.” “You carried a watermelon?” She sounded amused. “Yup. Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” She laughed at my Dirty Dancing reference and I smiled at making her do it.

“God, sometimes I think I only attract the weirdos,” she said. “You’re a beautiful, intelligent woman,” I said. “You attract everyone.”

what a sweetie pie

After three hours, a slice of rhubarb strawberry pie, and the sun starting to set, Briana hung up with me to go do Benny’s dialysis. The mosquitoes were eating me alive, so it was probably a good thing—but I still wouldn’t have hung up with her first. I liked her. A lot.

But I’d been watching Schitt’s Creek because Briana had mentioned it on our phone call the other day, and I wanted to understand her references. I wanted to have things in common with her. I wanted to try the things she liked.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to live like that? To not carry that burden around with you. To not feel constantly overwhelmed and overstimulated and second-guess every little thing.

Id like to know too

She laughed a little. “I know you don’t like loud, crowded places. I never see you in the lounge. I just figured you’d be more comfortable here.” Now my face went soft. She’d picked here on purpose? For me?

I looked back at her. “I can’t. It’s too ridiculous to entertain.” “Try me. Entertaining ridiculous is my specialty. I’m really good at it.”

I peered at her. “Thank you,” I said. “This takes so much stress off of me.” “Good. We gotta take care of that kidney.”

“Jacob, I am going to be the best girlfriend you’ve never had.”

I shook my head at him. “It is literally her job to call bullshit on us.” “I told her we were new—” “Jacob, I don’t even know what your penis looks like.” “Well, I’m not showing it to you—” “I’m not asking! I’m making a point!”

“What do you get from there?” he asked, a chuckle still in his voice. I shrugged. “A chalupa and two Taco Supremes with fire sauce.” “Those tacos are objectively the worst tacos ever created.” “The heart wants what the heart wants, Jacob.”

He did however leave me a letter around noon, next to my charting computer, taped to a brown paper bag. Dearest Briana, There is no accounting for your poor taste. But the heart wants what the heart wants. Sincerely, Jacob

If I’m in the bathroom later while you’re over, just know that I died eating what I love. And also that you are an enabler. Regards, Briana

“Your pants are on inside out,” I said, following her. “I know. The outside was fuzzier. Follow me for more fashion tips.”

“Nick never wanted to go with me,” she said. “I always had to go alone.” “I’ll go with you,” I said, a little too quickly and immediately regretting it.

But I didn’t have too much time to ponder this because Briana scooted over and snuggled up next to me. I couldn’t even breathe.

“I always think that when we’re quiet, we’re agreeing to be harmless to each other. That we’re just sharing the same space and letting each other exist exactly as we are, and neither of us would hurt or upset the other one.”

“Hey.” He smiled as I tossed my purse onto the seat and got in. He held up a bag. “I got you a red velvet donut.” I grinned. “You did?” “I have to feed you or you get crabby and nonproductive.”

I took a bite of the donut. Then I held it out in front of him and he took a bite too.

My heart started to pound, the same way it had when she’d been in my bedroom. It pounded the way it did when she called, or when I saw a letter from her, or when she came out of her house and jogged down the steps. And she was looking at me now like she loved me.

I stared back at her. She was holding my gaze and smiling softly and in that moment I wanted to lean down and kiss her, the same way I’d wanted to earlier at my house. What would she do if I did?

She crossed her arms. “I mean, what is her problem? Was that necessary? I cOuLdN’t BeLieVe yOu HaVe a GiRlFriEnD,” she said in a mock voice that was supposed to be Amy.

“You don’t like karaoke?” I asked, turning slightly so that our lips were a fraction of an inch apart. “I do. But today we’re in your hell, not mine.”

I made eye contact with her before I left. She was going to follow me. I could tell. I couldn’t wait to be alone with her. That was the reward. Not slipping out of the party or sitting on the stairs with the dog. It was getting her to myself.

if you’re with someone who doesn’t speak your language, you’ll spend a lifetime having to translate your soul?

“Why is he coming? He doesn’t like unfamiliar things. Or places. Or people. Or changes to his plans.” “No. But he definitely likes you.” She beamed.

“I have to give it to Doug, he is a hustler,” Briana said, eyeing the Venmo. “Doug would punch me in the face for a billion dollars.” “Then I’d have to punch Doug in the face for free.”

I looked down at the paved path. She had no idea the things I would do for her.

I glanced at her. “You know, if you really wanted to show Amy, we could drag this on a little longer. Maybe say we’re engaged. Get married. Have a few kids.”

I would have come no matter where she was, or what she was doing. I would have met her at a party. Or a busy bar or a nightclub. My desire to see her overrode my own self-preservation instincts—in more ways than one.

Im speechless

I was buying a sofa for the living room because that day she came over she said you couldn’t Netflix and chill in the recliners.

“Okay, you’re off speaker.” “I cannot sleep in here tonight.” “Why?” “Because I will have sex with him.” She snorted.

“You’re replacing your chairs because I came over one time and casually said you should have a sofa?” “I want to have the kind of living room you like.”

I might actually die

Her mouth fell open. “You sat in the rain just to talk to me?” I looked at my lap for a long moment before looking back up at her. “I’d do a lot more than that for you.”

Then I picked her up and carried her to bed. And while she was cradled in my arms, she muttered something about teleporting.

I’d spend the rest of my life looking for ways to make her smile at me like that. I lived for it.

I gave her an amused look. “You don’t have to bring my dad dead things.” “But I want to be his favorite,” she whined.

Out of coontext.. This is extremely funny

It seemed a waste to love her as much as I did without her ever knowing it.

“Jacob, I am so in love with you I can’t even stand it.” I watched this information transform his entire face. “What?” he breathed. “I’m in love with you too. I thought you wanted her. I thought—” “Say it again.” He swallowed. “I’m…I’m in love with you.”

There’s a special peace in sleeping next to someone you love. When you slip into the dark holding them and wake up and they’re still there and you know that everything that matters is just opening your eyes away.

Yours truly, Jacob

“I’m trying to manifest the things I want by speaking them into the universe.” “And you want a wife?” “Only if it’s you.”

“I’m afraid I’m just drugged and none of this is really happening.” “It’s really happening, Jacob.” I closed my eyes. “How do I know?” “Because love shows up. And here I am.”