I would bring you everywhere because I you.
Alice:
OMFG I would die. That would be so fun.
For the first time all day, I feel a flicker of joy imagining a life without Timmy in it—one where my friends and I can laugh and play and do ridiculous, harmless things.
One where I don’t have to explain my bruises or endure these emotional ups and downs.
One where I’m free.
CHAPTER 49
GONE METH-ING
MARGAUX
LATER IN THE DAY
“So Uncle next door and I bonded, by the way,” Timmy says casually, leaning against the counter like he’s about to share the story of the year. He’s referring to the elderly man whose apartment directly faces ours.
“Oh yeah?” I ask, barely looking up from my laptop. Uncle seems nice enough—a quiet, wheelchair-bound man who mostly keeps to himself. But I know Timmy well enough to expect that this story will have a twist. “What’d you guys bond over?”
Timmy’s grin widens. “He helps give me perspective. Says I need to treat you better, and not drink so much. Says I should smoke weed instead.”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. “Okay, solid advice.” I pause. “Wait, when was this conversation?”
“Yesterday,” he replies, “when I was upset with you and ran out. His door was open, so I went in.” He shrugs, as if walkinginto a neighbor’s apartment uninvited is the most natural thing in the world.
“Wait—what?” I close my laptop and sit up straighter. “You just… went in?”
“Yeah,” Timmy says, laughing now. “He was chilling there, totally naked.”
I blink, unsure whether to laugh or cry. “You walked into a naked uncle’s apartment to talk about your problems?”
Timmy nods, clearly proud of his newfound connection. “He gave me perspective, though! Said his life changed when he had a heart attack and ended up in a wheelchair. Told me not to sweat the small stuff.”
“Well, I’m glad Uncle’s got wisdom to share,” I say slowly, processing. “Maybe next time, wear clothes when you hang out, though?”
Timmy laughs again, brushing off the comment.
I decide to take the opportunity to set some boundaries. “Timmy, today and tomorrow are really important for my book,” I say carefully. “I need us to have a couple of calm, productive days. Can you help me with that?”
His eyes soften, and for a moment, he looks like the man I thought I fell in love with. “Of course,” he says with a gentle smile. “You know I’ll do anything I can to support you.”
The Following Day
Me:
Timmy’s location-sharing is turned off. Again.
I sigh and push my irritation aside.
Determined not to let him ruin my mood, I drive to the gas station, crank up Machine Gun Kelly, and sing at the top of my lungs all the way back to the apartment where I’m able to watch an entire episode of90 Day Fiancéin peace.Bliss.
But the tranquility doesn’t last long. Two-and-a-half hours after he bolts, Timmy returns. “I was just with the guy whose finger I helped save the other day,” he announces, beaming. “I gave him your wound cream, by the way.”
I freeze. “You… gave him my wound cream?”