Page 101 of Play Dirty

A text pops up on my phone and I look down warily.

MARCIE: Hey! I saw you were in town on socials…want to meet me and Cassius for dinner?

STEVIE: Cassius? You call him Cassius?! When did this happen?

MARCIE: Well, I’m not going to call the man I’m sleeping with ‘Barracuda.’ That’s just weird. And it’s been a few weeks. Since you introduced us that night.

STEVIE: Oh my God! Are you guys just hooking up or actually dating?

MARCIE: We’re dating. It’s not serious—it’s really hard to find time to be together—but for now it’s fun and casual.

STEVIE: It might be nice to get out. There’s a lot going on.

MARCIE: Are you okay?

STEVIE: I will be. Things are a little tough right now. I’ll tell you when I see you.

She gives me the name and address of the restaurant, and I pad into the bathroom to get ready.

I look tired. Pale. Not like the smiling, vibrant woman of the last couple of months.

The woman who was in love with a sweet, strong, protective hockey player.

This woman just looks…sad.

But I’ve spent most of my life falling in love with love, so I need to pull up my big girl pants and get past this.

Because it’s better for him.

I have to keep reminding myself of that so I don’t call him, beg him to take me back.

I’m not that girl anymore, the one who’s afraid to be single.

I put some bronzer on my cheeks, add a layer of mascara, and dab some gloss on my lips.

A few minutes later I’m in a cab heading to the restaurant.

There’s an energy in New York City that I love.

It’s different from L.A., but it’s not bad.

I always wanted to live here.

I was so proud when I bought that brownstone.

But moving to L.A. to be close to Chey and Saylor and Effie made sense.

It still does.

This whole thing sucks, and I’m momentarily furious with Brenna.

She’s the one who cheated, the one who fucked up her marriage and her husband’s life. Why does she still get to impact the lives of others who had nothing to do with any of it? I’m basically a casualty of her infidelity and it pisses me off.

I don’t deserve this.

Marty really doesn’t deserve it.

But he does deserve his children.

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