Page 25 of Between Now & Heartbreak

I bark a surprised laugh, someone did a number on her.

And how I wish that was true.

Because right now, mine feels like it’s been drop kicked.

But the dumb fucking thing won’t lay there and play dead. No, because she put her hand over it and gave me hope.

What might have been if things hadn’t gotten so turned upside down.

I’m not surprised she’s got a man.

A woman like that wouldn’t be alone if she didn’t want to be.

But God… help me, Ihateit.

It was one night.One.

I shouldn’t care.

She moved on.

Now that I know that, I should, too.

Our meeting was as improbably as a bright blue sky in the middle of the night. And yet…I was sure I’d found something meant for me.

I tasted her magic. That’s all it took to hook me. And now I have to live with the knowledge that I’ll never have it again.

And fuck if that doesn’t piss me off.

5

WHAT GOES UP

BETH

“Lizzy has always hadthe best luck. I mean, she’s my best friend, but I’ve also always secretly hated her a little because she’ssoperfect.” Georgia smiles her toothy, sparkling white smile and beams down at me with a great imitation of love and affection.

The only way I can muster a smile in return to her is to imagine all of her teeth cracking and falling out. She’s phony as fuck, but then again, I guess I am, too. So I tolerate her.

“That’s my baby. So perfect. Her only flaw is this tiny cut on her pinky toe and even that’s cute,” Duke says and leans in to kiss me.

Again.

I turn my face and his sloppy kiss lands on my cheek and my father clears his throat. I pretend I didn’t hear him and take a huge gulp of my previously untouched wine.

I’m irritated and tired. The dinner party started less than an hour ago and Duke is already drunk. He’s been touching me and making lewd comments all night, and it’s taken real restraint to not throw my drink in his face.

I glance down to the other end of the table where Dina is sitting. She looks like she wants to vomit.

Georgia taps her glass with her knife and the room quiets down again.

“We all love her so much because well, she’s so sweet. Being your best friend is the biggest blessing of my life.” She smiles sweetly down at me.

And like a rebuke from the heavens for the enormity of her lie, the door to the dining room flies open with a huge bang.

The tranquil, if slightly boisterous, mood of our little gathering is instantly shattered. Everyone’s attention shifts and a chorus of shocked gasps fills the room as a woman marches in.

She looks like she’s been in a fight. Her dark hair is half out of her ponytail and her face is streaked with tears and flushed red.

---