Just as I had lost the fight to keep from calling him a second time, there was a knock at the door.

“Happy Saturday, ladies,” Kim said, bursting in.

“Hey Kim,” I said, disappointed.

“Well. I love you, too.”

“She was expecting Jared,” Beth explained.

“I heard the date went well.” Kim raised her eyebrows repeatedly.

“I fell asleep. He slept on the couch.”

Kim wrinkled her nose. “Bummer.” She immediately turned her attention to Beth. “What are we doing tonight?”

“Oh…Chad is taking me out. Sorry,” Beth said, not sounding the least bit sorry.

Kim smiled. “Oh well, maybe you can have a more interesting time than Naughty Nina over there.”

I stiffened, knowing that Jared or Claire could hear everything. I felt the blush span from collar bone to crown.

“Whoa! Just kidding, Nigh!” Kim said, mistaking my embarrassment for anger.

Kim forced me to rehash the entire evening. It was difficult for me to explain the length of time that I’d spent there and leave out everything that Jared had told me. I kept checking my phone, even though I knew no one had called.

Beth discussed the juicy details of our earlier visit to the hospital, which seemed to intrigue Kim.

“What do you expect? He’s crazy about her,” Kim said. “I know you really like Jared, Nigh, but Ryan’s a good guy, too.”

“I know,” I said, looking at my phone again.

“Who are you expecting to call? You’ve been checking your phone like a crack addict waiting on her dealer,” Kim chided.

“Kim!” I wailed, my face burning again.

“What is with you, today? I thought you slept last night,” Kim asked, confused.

“I did. I just wish you would keep your mouth shut!”

“Nigh, we’re in your room. Who’s going to hear?” Kim looked at Beth like I’d gone insane.

“No one,” I said. “You just…nothing. I have to go.” I grabbed my coat, shoved my phone in my purse and headed out the door. I wished that Jared had forgone the microphone part of the truth. I didn’t feel comfortable having a normal conversation in my room.

By Monday, I still hadn’t heard from Jared. It was heartbreaking that he was somewhere close, yet he refused to speak to me. Even after everything Jared had said, my thoughts continued to return to one horrible prospect: that for some reason after he’d dropped me off, he realized how unworthy I was of the adoration he’d felt for so long.

The week dragged on and I found the only place I felt somewhat normal was at the hospital. I escaped campus day after day, feeling I could finally breathe the moment I sat at Ryan’s bedside. We were nearly caught up on all of his homework by the time he finally broached the subject.

“Are you going to tell me what’s been going on with you or not?”