Page 7 of Fake To Forever

When I reach her cute little house with rose bushes lining the front walk, I clear the three steps to her front door and hit the doorbell. It only takes a moment, and she opens the door in her bright pink robe, her dark brows furrowed in confusion.

Marie is stunning, even half-dressed and with no make-up on and her long brown hair pulled back into a messy bun. She’s tall and statuesque and could have been a model if she wanted, but she chose to work at the local library because she loves books more than anyone I know.

“Haven? What are you doing here?”

“We’re going out tonight,” I tell her, sliding past her into the entryway. “So you better find something to wear and take a shower.”

She blinks in confusion, closing the door behind me. “What? Why… is everything okay? You never want to go out. Unless, of course, it’s drinking with your brother.”

“I just need to burn off some steam. Especially after spending the afternoon at the hospital…”

Marie’s bright brown eyes widen with instant realization and a flash of pain crosses her expression that she quickly masks. She does that for my sake, I know. But she doesn’t need to. She doesn’t have to hide how much my mom being sick hurts her.

“Okay… yeah, just give me a minute.” Before I can say a word, she wraps her arms around me and gives me a tight hug.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I know what you’re going through right now is brutal…”

I hug her back, soaking in the warmth of her compassion and care. It’s moments like this that make me want to break down and cry. And if it wasn’t for Marie, I probably wouldn’t be able to make it through all this stuff with mom.

Marie’s my rock in so many ways.

“Thanks,” I mutter into her skin, holding on tight. “It’s so awful seeing her like this. I can’t stand it, but she puts on such a brave face. It takes everything in me to keep it together.”

“I know.” She sighs, leaning back as she cups my face. “If you want to go out and have some fun to try and put this from your mind, we’ll do that.”

I give her a grateful smile, nodding my head. “Okay…”

“Drinks are on me tonight,” Marie teases me with a wink..

I scoff and chuckle, feeling lighter already. “As ifwe’dever pay for our own drinks.”

She giggles and gives me another quick hug before we head to her room so that I can raid her closet. Even though she’s taller, she has a few pieces that fit me. Marie ends up in a bodysuit that hugs every curve, and I throw on a pair of high-waisted black shorts and a sparkly tank top.

“Can I borrow your curling iron?” I ask her.

“Of course,” she says as she grabs her make-up bag.

Several minutes later, Marie pulls on a pair of boots while I finish curling the ends of my auburn hair, frowning at myself in the mirror. I put on a few dabs of foundation and bronzer and blend it all in, curl my eyelashes, throw on some eyeliner on my water line, and cover my eyelids with a dark red shadow that hopefully will pop with my hair.

Marie has gone full-glam, of course, because that’s just who she is. She stands tall and stunning in her boots. She’s at least four inches taller than me even in my heels.

“What club are we going to?” she asks. “Any ideas?”

“There’s a new one—Tundra,” I tell her.

“Tundra,” she repeats with a shrug. “I’m down.”

Half an hour later, we’re in an Uber pulling up to the club, the bright red neon lights beckoning us in. It’s been forever since I’ve been to a proper club, and though I’ve never been to this one, I’ve only heard good things.

The moment we pass the double doors, we beeline for the bar.

“Shots?” I ask, grinning at her from ear to ear.

“Something white,” she says, wrinkling her nose. “Last time we had that cinnamon whiskey, I threw up for two days.”

“Don’t remind me.” I gag, shaking off the memory of how great it was going down but not coming back up.

Deciding to play it safe, I order us shots of top-shelf vodka and we take them down easily before I order a sex on the beach, and she orders a cosmopolitan. It’s been so long and I’ve been so preoccupied with work and caring for Mom, I can admit I’ve neglected myself.

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