"Let's head out," Corbin says, pushing the elevator button. "We'll get you what you need and grab some lunch, then get you home so you can sleep."
Corbin starts driving to the mall but I insist we go to a discount store where I can get more for the money. After just a few minutes of being there I can tell Corbin doesn't like shopping. He keeps looking at his watch to check the time, but he doesn't rush me at all. Still, I try to hurry, finding some jeans, t-shirts, and a couple sweatshirts. For now, I just need the basics, including underwear and some bras, which I snuck in the cart when Corbin took off to make a phone call.
"I think I have everything," I say.
"You sure?" Corbin looks at the cart. "What about girl stuff?"
I laugh. "Girl stuff? What girl stuff? It's not that time of the month."
"I meant other girl stuff, like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, makeup. You need all that stuff, right?"
"Um, I guess, but I don't have to get it right now."
"We're here. You need it. You might as well get it. Or if you want to go to a better store for that stuff we can."
"I can get what I need here."
As he's pushing the cart to the shampoo aisle, he says, "Lauren would never buy shampoo here. Or makeup. She wouldn't even buy her shower gel here."
"Where does she go for that stuff?"
"She has different stores for all of them. She special orders her shampoo off the internet. And she has some special store for her makeup where they blend it just for her."
"That's a thing? I've never heard of that."
"It's a thing but it costs a lot."
"Good thing she has a good job. Does she have a job for after her residency?"
"Not yet. She's been talking about looking for jobs in New York." He stops the cart in front of the shampoo. "Want to pick one out?"
After we finish shopping and ring everything up at the checkout, I go in the bathroom and put on my new jeans, a t-shirt that actually fits, and a hoodie so I can give Corbin's back to him. I'd love to keep wearing it but that seems like something a girlfriend would do, which I am not.
For lunch we go to a deli next to his apartment building. It's busy and loud but the lunch crowd is starting to leave, quieting the place down. I've had a headache all morning but I didn't want to tell Corbin because I knew he'd make us go home and I really needed some different clothes. I feel a lot better knowing I have stuff now. After losing everything, I'll never again take for granted things like clean underwear and warm socks. And jeans. The sweatpants were huge on me. It feels good to be in jeans again.
As we're finishing lunch one of the deli workers walks up to our table. He's around my age with shaggy blond hair, an eyebrow ring, and black and brown leather bracelets lining his wrists. "Sterling, what's up? Haven't seen you for a while."
"I've been working a lot." He motions to me. "Lars, this is Star."
He gives me a nod. "Hey." Turning back to Corbin, Lars folds his arms over his chest. "So I heard you hit some girl with your car."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Lauren and I had spin class this morning. She said the chick was on a bike and ended up in the hospital." He smacks Corbin's shoulder. "Better lawyer up, man. That girl finds out you have money she'll be all over that, suing your ass for as much as she can get."
Corbin clears his throat. "Star is the girl I hit."
"Oh, shit!" Lars takes a step back, briefly glancing at me before looking back to Corbin. "Sorry, man, I had no idea."
"Don't worry about it."
Lars looks at me. "You okay? I mean you look good to me but what do I know?" He laughs.
"I'm fine. Just a few scrapes and bruises." I glance at Corbin. "And don't worry. I don't plan to sue anyone. Corbin's more than made up for what happened."
"He has, has he?" Lars looks back at Corbin and I realize he took what I said a different way.
"I'm helping her find an apartment," Corbin explains. "When she got out of the hospital, she found out her roommates took off with all her stuff and rented the place out to someone else."
"That sucks," Lars mutters.
"And because of me, she lost her job so I'm trying to help her get back on her feet."
"You're a good man, Sterling." Lars pats him on the shoulder. "I gotta get back to work."
"Hey, before you go," Corbin says, "What else did Lauren say this morning?"
He shrugs. "Not much. She just told me about the accident. She seemed pissed you were missing work."
"Yeah, well, that's not something she should be worrying about. She told you we broke up, right?"
"You guys broke up?" he asks, sounding surprised.
"A few days ago. Lauren hasn't quite accepted it yet."
"That's why she was in a bad mood. I thought she was just tired from her double shift. The girl works constantly. I don't know how she does it."
"It's just until her residency is over. After that she'll have more regular hours. Lauren's tough. She can handle it."
"Yeah. Hey, sorry about the breakup."
"It was time. We both need to move on with our lives." Corbin gets up from the table. "We should get going. Star needs to rest."
"So where are you staying?" Lars asks me.
"With me," Corbin answers. "Just until we find her a place."
He nods, then looks at me. "Hope you feel better."
"Thanks."
Lars walks back to the kitchen.
"How long have you known Lars?" I ask Corbin as we're leaving.
"About a year. We're not really friends. I just see him at the deli. I eat there a lot since it's so close to my apartment. Lauren knows him better than I do."
"Because of spin class?"
"That, and they do other stuff sometimes. When she has a night off Lauren likes to go to clubs. I'm kinda done with clubs so if I don't feel like going she goes with a group of friends. Sometimes Lars tags along."
"He's kinda cute."
"Cute?" Corbin wrinkles his nose in disgust. "You think he's cute?"
"Cute in a grungy, laid-back kind of way."
"I'm laid-back," he insists.
"Yeah? So?"
"You don't think I'm cute?"
"Um, no, not really."
It's true. Cute is not how I'd describe him. Hot. Smoldering. Burning with masculinity. Those are words I'd use to describe him. Cute doesn't cut it.
He huffs. "I have a history that says otherwise."
"Meaning what? You've slept with a lot of women?" I don't know where that came from. It just shot out of my mouth. I blame the concussion.
"Meaning I've been told I'm cute many times."
"What's cute to one person isn't cute to another."
"True." He glances at me with a smile. "I'm still disappointed you don't think I'm cute."
"Why do you care?"
"Because it means I'm getting old. Losing my looks."
I laugh. "You're a guy. You're not supposed to care how you look."
"Of course I care. All guys do."
"Not my brother. He'll go out with his hair a mess, wearing clothes that are ripped or stained or both. It doesn't bother him at all."
"Does he get girls looking like that?"
"He already has one. Don't ask me how he got her. It's a mystery. I'm thinking he must've brainwashed her somehow."
Corbin laughs. "Well, girlfriend or not, I still want to look good. It's how I was raised. We couldn't leave the house unless we were what my mother considered to be presentable. She would've rolled over in her grave if she saw me in your hospital room the other day, wearing those wrinkled clothes."
We're in the elevator now, going up to his apartment.
"What happened to your mom? Or do you not want to talk about it?"
"I can talk about it. My mom had a stroke and never recovered." The elevator doors open and we go into his apartment. "My dad's new wife was one of my mom's friends."
"That's kind of weird, isn't it? Your dad marrying your mom's friend?"
"Not really. I don't think they married for love. It was more for companionship. They both go to a lot of parties and fundraisers and like to travel. They didn't want to do those things alone." He drops his keys in the bowl by the door, then walks over to me. "Time to rest. Doctor's orders."
"You're not my doctor."
"But I'm a doctor and I know you need rest. It's been a busy morning."
"I really should try to find an apartment."
"I'll search while you sleep. Follow me."
He walks down the hall to the room at the very end. It has a queen-sized bed, nightstand, and TV on the wall.
"Will this work?"
"It's perfect. Way better than an air mattress."
"You slept on an air mattress?"
"I moved here with just my car and whatever I could fit in it."
"When we find you an apartment I'll get you a bed. You need to sleep on a real mattress."
"I'll get one after I find a job."
"It can't wait. Sleep is important for health. This is another doctor's orders thing. Now stop arguing with me and get some rest."
He gives me a smile, then leaves, shutting the door behind him.
Out of all the people who could've hit me with their car I really lucked out having it be Corbin. He's done so much for me and keeps offering to do more. I just don't know how long it'll last. I can't expect him to keep helping me. I need to find my own way out of this mess. But for now I need to sleep.
Chapter Ten
Corbin
While Star is asleep I do a quick search for apartments. Finding one that's affordable is going to be difficult. The Boston housing market is one of the most expensive in the country.
My quick search brings up websites for luxury apartments downtown. They don't even bother to list the rent, meaning if you have to ask, you can't afford it. The next few listings are also for luxury rentals. Clicking to the next page of search results I see a place that looks old and rundown but it's in a safe area and close to the subway, a plus since Star doesn't have a car. Scrolling down to the rent I see the cheapest apartment is $1600 a month. That's nothing for me but way too much for her. She'd need a roommate, but how do I find her a roommate she can trust? I know a lot of people in town but none who need roommates.
Shutting down my laptop I grab my keys and take the elevator to the first floor. Not having slept the past few nights, I'm exhausted and need some caffeine to keep me awake. There's a coffee shop on the street level of my building. I go there every morning and love the place but it's going to be awkward going there now that I broke up with Lauren. Her best friend, Alexis, is the manager.
I see her as soon as I walk in. She's behind the counter, refilling the coffee machines.
"Alexis," I say, getting her attention.
"Corbin." She sounds surprised, but I'm sure Lauren told her I wasn't at work. Lauren tells her everything.
"I'll take a double espresso." I get out my wallet.
She stands there, not getting my coffee. "I heard about you and Lauren."
I nod. "I assumed you did."
She cocks her head. "Why the break? You need time to think, or what?"
I sigh, not wanting to discuss this with her. "Lauren and I broke up. It's not temporary."
"She said you just needed some time alone."
"That wasn't the reason. Now could I get my coffee please?"
She remains in front of me, her hand on her hip. "I don't get it. You two have been together forever. Why end it now?" She narrows her eyes at me. "You're cheating."
"I'm not cheating. Now could I please have my coffee?"
"Why would you break up with her? Why now? Right before your engagement?"
"We weren't getting engaged. Just because her mother was planning an engagement party doesn't mean I had plans to propose. Her mother never should've done that."
"It wasn't just her mother. Everyone thought you two were headed to the altar. Lauren and I were already looking at dresses. We even went to bridal shops and she tried some on. But don't tell her I told you that. She wouldn't want you to know."
That doesn't surprise me. I always felt like Lauren was hiding stuff from me.
"What else wouldn't she want me to know?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I shrug. "I just wondered if there were other things Lauren didn't tell me. You would know. You're her best friend. She tells you everything."
"Lauren doesn't have secrets," she says, walking over to the espresso machine.
"If she did, you wouldn't tell me," I say, keeping my tone light so she doesn't think I'm accusing her of anything. Because I'm not. I'm just curious if Lauren told her things she didn't tell me.
"What could she possibly be hiding?" Alexis asks, her back to me as she waits for the machine to finish.
"I don't know. Maybe she was the one cheating."
"Lauren cheat?" She laughs. "When would she have time? She works like a hundred hours a week." Alexis returns with my espresso. "You look like shit today."
I hand her the money. "Keep the change."
As I'm leaving I hear her talking. "Heard you almost killed someone."
Lauren always makes things sound worse than they are so I'm not surprised Alexis said that.
I turn back around. "She's fine. Just a little banged up."
"Have you talked to your lawyer yet? Because my father has a friend who specializes in these types of cases. I could give you his number."
Why do people keep assuming Star's going to sue me? Not everyone is out to get money. Star didn't even want me buying her a sandwich.
"I won't be needing it," I say to Alexis as I walk to the door. She says something else but I pretend I didn't hear and continue out the door.
Alexis is from a wealthy family of lawyers. She was headed into a law career herself but then changed her mind and got a degree in women's studies. After college she moved back in with her parents and spent her days shopping. A year later her father told her he'd cut off her allowance if she didn't get a job, which is why she's managing the coffee shop. She's 28 and still gets an allowance to pay for her designer clothes and more shoes than she could ever wear.
Back at my apartment I go check on Star. She's sound asleep. I close the door and return to the living room.
Sipping my coffee, I get out my phone and check for messages. There's nothing from work. I didn't think there would be. Working in urgent care you see people once and that's it. It's not like having your own practice where patients are contacting you day and night with questions. My father was always on call. He could never relax. Now my sister's that way. I don't want that to be my life but it's exactly what Lauren wants. She's all about her career and has no problem working around the clock. It's another reason we weren't a good fit.
My phone rings and I see Lauren's name on the screen. I'd rather not answer but I pick up because she might be calling to tell me when she'll be by to get her things.
"Hello, Lauren."
"She's LIVING with you?" she yells.
"Lauren, if you're going to scream like that I'm hanging up."
I hear her blow out a breath, then calmly say, "I heard the girl you hit is now living with you. Is that true?"
"Where'd you hear that?" I ask, because I haven't told anyone. Did she bug my apartment? It wouldn't surprise me if she did.
"Lars told me. He called to tell me Kari from spin class broke her ankle and wouldn't be teaching tomorrow. Then he mentioned seeing you at lunch and said you had that girl with you."
"It's just temporary. Until she finds a place of her own."
"She's homeless? You're living with a homeless girl?"
"She wasn't homeless until this morning. She had an apartment but her roommates took off when she was in the hospital. She doesn't have anywhere to go so unless you know of somewhere she could stay, rent-free, she'll be staying here. Is that the only reason you called? To ask about Star?"
"Star," she mutters. "What a
stupid name."
"Lauren, why did you call?"
"You better not be sleeping with her. We're on a break. That doesn't mean you can date other women."
"For the last time, this is more than a break. We are no longer in a relationship. It's over. I'm sorry you're having a hard time with this but this isn't the first time we've talked about it, Lauren. Just last year you talked about us not having a future."
"That was during a fight. I was angry. It doesn't count."
"The topic came up more than once, and every time it did you told me I needed to change. Our entire relationship you kept trying to make me be someone else. I'm tired of it, Lauren. I can't make you happy and I accept that. We're just not right for each other."
She sniffles, a sign she's about to fake cry. When she doesn't get her way in an argument, the fake crying begins and doesn't end until I give in. But I'm not giving in. Not this time.
The fake crying gets louder, her breath hiccuping, followed by sniffling. Even though I know it's fake, I still feel bad hearing her cry. That's why she does it. She knows I don't like hurting her.
"Lauren, I'm sorry. I really am. It just wasn't meant to be."
"But I love you," she says, sniffling.
If she loved me she wouldn't have treated me the way she did all the years we were together. She would've supported me the way I've supported her. She would've listened to me and let me be who I am instead of trying to change me into someone else.
Lauren doesn't love me. She loves what she imagines me to be, which is not who I am.
"Lauren, why don't you take some time off? Go home and get some rest. You'll feel better tomorrow."
She sniffles, then gets quiet.
"Lauren?"
Checking my phone, I see she hung up. I don't know what that means. Is she telling me she's angry at me? If so, I already know that. I'm angry at her too for making me feel like this is all my fault when really it's nobody's fault. The relationship just wasn't working. All we did was fight. There was no love left between us. It got to the point we didn't even like spending time together. We're both better off with someone else.
In the short time I've spent with Star I already feel more like myself again. The real me, not the one Lauren kept trying to create. I've smiled and laughed more the past few days than I have in months. Everything was so serious with Lauren. We couldn't just relax and have fun.
Lucky Star Page 9