For Fake and For Real

27. Best Kiss

"Ashley? Why are you answering Tim's phone?"

"Why are you calling him?"

"He's my...I don't have to explain myself to you. Let me talk to him...please."

"Take a hint, Lucy, he doesn't want to talk to you. He's mine now, so back off," Ashley snapped and hung up.

She thought she might throw up. Did Tim REALLY move on? Did he really fall for Ashley after not being able to stand her months ago? Tim must have given up. After all, he had accused her of dating Brendon, so maybe he felt it was only fair that he start a new relationship...but with Ashley? Really?

"65 days," she reminded herself in an attempt to compose herself, but she wondered: what's the point of counting down if there's no hope of resuming their forever?

Her sleep quality was subpar before, and now Lucy definitely could not manage any semblance of a good night's sleep.

••••••••••

As July was coming to a close, Lucy thought time was moving far too slowly. She knew what day it was, and all she wanted to do was call Tim, but could she? Was she allowed to? Would he even pick up? Would she survive another conversation with Ashley if she answered the phone again instead of Tim?

"What's that?" Tamara asked as she looked down at the book on the kitchen counter. Lucy looked lost like she had been for the last few weeks, and her concern for her friend was only growing.

"It's nothing," Lucy answered dismissively, but that little book had been causing her so much anguish as this day neared, and she didn't know what to do with it.

Tamara scoffed, since she knew it wasn't "nothing" and reached over to inspect the mystery book further. It was...a photo album. She recognized Lucy's handiwork easily. Her roommate managed to carefully curate a selection of pictures that seem to span throughout Tim's life. There were some throwback childhood photos mixed in with more recent ones including a lot with Lucy. It felt sentimental and sweet. "Lucy, this is beautiful. You made this?"

She sighed. "Remember how I told you I found all of Tim's family photos a while back? Well, in that box, there were a lot of picture albums that Tim's mom made. She must have spent days pouring over each album. There was one for every year of Tim's life before she passed, and each one had a little inscription she had written. I think it was a gift from her of sorts, and I figured Tim probably hasn't gotten one in a while, so I thought I'd make him one, and I made it small enough for him to take when he travels for filming," Lucy explained.

"Is this...his birthday present?"

"It was."

"You're not gonna give it to him?"

"I don't see the point."

"Come on, Lucy, this is so thoughtful. He'll love it."

"There are a lot of pictures of me in there. Tim...he doesn't need those anymore."

"Seriously? You know he still loves you."

"I'm not so sure. Look, I can't destroy it, but I can't give it to him, so...can you just hide it somewhere, so I don't see it?"

"Fine. If that's what you want, but I still think you should give it to him."

Lucy shook her head.

"Are you at least planning on calling him to wish him a happy birthday?" Tamara pressed.

"What's the point? He never answers. He's made it clear he doesn't want to talk to me."

"Okay, when does he come back from Dubai?"