Page 19 of Always Been You

Standing straighter and pulling my shoulders back, I take a deep breath, gathering my strength. “What were you doing before our appointment today, Drew?”

His eyes dart between me and the people behind me. “Grading,” he answers.

I take a deep breath. He’s not going to own up to the truth. I guess I’ll have to say it. “So, you weren’t fucking some skinny blonde chick from behind in your bed, then?” I spit at him.

He staggers back slightly and the colour drains from his face. He puts his hands up defensively. “Look Liv, can we talk about this? Please, let’s talk.” He looks over my shoulder again. “Alone, please.”

Are you fucking kidding me? I pretty much just told him I caught him cheating on me and he wants me to talk to him about it. To be in a room with him alone. He has obviously lost his ever-loving mind. I think it’s the casualness of the way he asks that pisses me off the most, though, as if cheating is a normal occurrence in a relationship. I can feel the anger rising in my body from my toes to my ears. I can feel my body go rigid as I try to not completely explode.

This man has the fucking gall. “You want to fucking talk, Drew, are you kidding me? The time for talking was when you realized you were interested in other women. The time for talking was before you slept with some skinny blonde bitch. Before we agreed to get a place together. You will not be getting anything more from me. Leave. Me. The. Fuck. Alone. Don’t come here again, and lose my number, don’t contact me again.” My chest is heaving with anger.

He looks me up and down. “We got a place together Liv. You can’t do this. You have a commitment to me and our new place. We can work on this. You can start going to the gym with me, and we can cook together. We can work on you and our relationship when we live together.”

I have always been self-conscious about my body, but Drew is flat out saying this to me now. My body wants to curl up on itself. I’m beyond angry. I pull my right hand back and slap him across the face and he staggers. “I owe you nothing,and I haven’t signed a lease, so I’m not on the hook for that. But thank you for showing me what a piece of shit you are.”

Drew’s face is bright red where I slapped him. Anger fills his eyes and he takes a step toward me. “You bitch,” he spits, but before he can get any more out, Josh stomps past me and has Drew pinned against the wall of the hallway across from my apartment. “Careful of what you say next,” I hear Josh grit out.

Matt walks forward and steps in front of me, blocking any access Drew might have to me. I lean around Matt to get a look at what is happening in the hallway. Josh leans in and says something into Drew’s ear. I can’t hear it, but Drew loses all colour in his face. Josh lets go of him and Drew makes his way down the hallway, staring at Josh, me, and Matt.

The guys usher me inside and I can feel all the energy leave my body as I crumble onto the couch. Josh hands me my drink once I’m settled and I give him a slight smile before I finish every last drop in the glass.

“We’re going to stay with her tonight,” Zoey says to Matt, and he nods.

“Can you text me the contact information of the rental agency? I’ll email them to ensure your name is off the lease,” he says, and I only have the energy to nod at him. “Your new keys are on the entryway table. I have your spare key.” He says before he kisses me on the cheek and he and Josh leave, locking the front door behind them.

Looking at the girls as they curl up on the couch with me. “Thank you guys,” I whisper to them.

“Liv, there is nothing to thank us for. We love you; we are here for you.” Hannah says.

Liz squeezes my knee as she nods in response. We turn Criminal Minds back on, finish the pizza, and have somemore drinks before we pull out my air mattress and set up the living room for us all to sleep. Today may have been one of the worst days I have ever experienced, but I was reminded that I have amazing friends and a brother who will always be there for me. Tomorrow is another day, and I have so much to figure out now, but I have a support system that will help me through it.

I wake upin the morning, and the events of yesterday come flooding back into my mind. Drew’s cheating, the girls coming over, Matt and Josh showing up, and the confrontation with Drew. I take a deep breath, trying to release the tension from my body, but it doesn’t work. I sit up on the air mattress and see that Han and Liz are already awake and sitting in the kitchen with coffee. Zo is still asleep beside me.

I rub my eyes, get up, and shuffle into the kitchen and head to the coffeepot. I look at them and see the worry that floats in their eyes. I take a deep breath and turn to them with a full cup. “I’m okay… or I’ll be okay.” I let out a sigh. “At least I found out before we moved in together.” They both have solemn looks on their face, and they nod. “I do need to start the apartment hunt, though; can you guys help? Send me anything you find?”

“Of course,” Han says, “if you need, you can crash on my couch. It’s not super comfortable, but it’ll work.”

“Thanks, Han, I might need that.”

She looks down at her watch. “I’m sorry babe, I have a shift at the hospital. I need to get home and change.” She gets up and puts her coffee mug in the sink and hugs me. “Call me if you need anything. I love you, Liv. You’re strong, you’ll be okay,” she tells me before pulling back. “I love you too, thanksfor being here last night,” I say, she smiles before grabbing her purse and heading out the front door.

I putter around the kitchen and make a simple breakfast for Liz, Zo, and me. We eat at my kitchen table and have an easy conversation about nothing. The girls stay for a few hours before they head home for the night. I grab my phone, checking it for the first time today when they leave.

I have several texts and missed calls from Drew. I ignore them all, a couple of texts from Matt and one from Josh. I go into my phone and block Drew’s number so that I don’t have to deal with him anymore and delete all his texts. I open the texts from Matt next.

Matty:Liv, you’re strong, you’re going to be okay.

Matty:Let me know if you need anything. I’m here for you.

Matty:We are supposed to go to dinner at Mom and Dad’s tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at 5:30.

Liv:Thanks Matt, love you too. See you then.

Matty:You’re good then?

Liv:Will be.

I completely forgot about dinner with my parents, but it’s been a while and being with my family will help me. I then open Josh’s text.

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