Page 43 of Cognac Secrets

CHAPTERTWELVE

Sandrine…

“I don’t know,” I said. “He’s been cagey for like the last three weeks about it.”

“He’s fucking somebody else,” True said with conviction.

“I don’t think so!” I cried, cradling my phone between shoulder and chin. “I mean,wehaven’t done it since that one time, but that’s only because I can’t have him here and he really doesn’t want me at his place, which – ew. I’m more than kind of grateful for that. I’ve been in some gnarly places andthat place?”

“Seedy as they come, I know!” True sounded exasperated and I felt my lips twist in a wry smile.

“I still say he’s fucking somebody else. You’re the side piece, I just have a gut feeling.”

I sighed and it came out a little defeated. True sniffed dismissively on the other end of the line and I remained silent. I didn’t know how to tell her that her insistence about Bennie being a bad guy was really starting to hurt my feelings. Not because I thought he was, but more… I don’t know. I guess my judgment hadn’t always been sound in the past, but I really couldn’t seem to get through to her just howdifferentthis whole thing felt. It didn’t feel like Bennie was playing me, just that he was gun shy, like me… I felt like we were on the same page.

“I bet it’s not,” I said and I know it came out glum and petulant.

“What else could it be?” True demanded and I gave an exasperated huff and said, “I don’t know! That’s what I’m going to find out.”

“Mm-hm,” she said dubiously as I went through the garden’s side gate to head up front of the house. I could hear the distant thrum of an approaching motorcycle and my heart gave a little leap and did a pirouette for joy.

“I can hear him coming,” I said. “I’ll let you know what it is.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” True declared. “I’ll have the popcorn and Ben and Jerry’s ready.”

“Bitch,” I said laughing.

True sighed and said, “I just wish you wouldn’t keep doing this to yourself, honey.”

My heart sank.

“I keep telling you, this isdifferent,” I insisted.

I could practically hear her roll her eyes on the other end of the line as she said, “I’ve heard that before. Just protect your heart, okay?”

“Yeah,” I said and ended the call as Bennie swept up to the curb.

I put a smile on my face as bright as could be and hoped that it didn’t look brittle. I’d become a convincing actress and very good at hiding my feelings out of necessity growing up. You learned to adapt quick when your father was a raging asshole like mine had been.

“Hey!” I called out and stepped lightly forward. His arms were out and I folded into them gratefully. He gave the best hugs, long and lingering sweet, and when I was in his arms, italmostfelt like nothing could or would hurt me… but I knew that wasn’t always the case. No matter how careful someone was with you. You couldn’t controlotherpeople and their actions.

I batted the old and depressing cobwebs of my past that were drifting to the forefront of my mind with True being such a negative cunt muffin in my ear earlier.

My mom had been like that. Constantly shooting everything and anything I had ever remotely been excited about down in an abundance of caution.

I loved my mom, and I understood why she did it –dad… but just once it would have been nice to have someone,anyone, on my side and excited for and with me.

That didn’t seem like too much to ask, butlordit seemed like anyone I asked it of treated me like I was asking theworldof them.

Eventually, you stopped asking… I was really hoping I wasn’t getting to that point with True. That would be devastating. I mean, she was my best friend.

“What’s going on?” Bennie demanded as I started to pull back and I put on that smile again before he could see my face.

“Just wondering what you’re being so cagey about!” I said cheerfully, and I think just maybe I was trying too hard and he’d picked up on it.

He cocked his head and searched my face.

“We need to talk about it?” he asked and I put on a frown.

---