Page 10 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

‘What up, loser?’

At the sound of his voice, a sob emerges before I’m ready.

‘Hols? What’s wrong?’ His voice is full of worry.

‘He dumped me,’ I cry into the phone.

‘Shit. Why?’

‘I found an engagement ring receipt.’ I bite my lip hard in a desperate attempt to hold back a hideously ugly public cry. ‘But it was for someone else.’

‘The ring was for someone else? Jesus, Hollyn. You really know how to pick ’em. What a fucking prick.’ He’s angry. I knew he would be.

‘Yeah,’ I say meekly, tears spilling over and streaming down my face. ‘I thought he was going to propose, Riv.’

‘Why the fuck would you want him to propose?’

‘I love him. Or I thought I loved him? I dunno. I don’t think I know what love is anymore.’

He grunts. ‘Whatever you two have isn’t love. Trust me. I know you’ve put a lot of time into this douche, but he’s a real blowhole. The guy has cheatedmultipletimes. Just get on a plane and come home already.’

‘Iam, River. I kind of have to. I lost my job a few months ago, and I haven’t been able to find anything.’

He sighs heavily into the phone. I can almost see him pulling the phone from his ear and dropping his head into his hands out of frustration.

‘We talked about this, Hollyn. I can’t help you if you lie to me. You lost your job? Why’d you wait months to tell me?’

‘Humiliation, probably.’ God, I am a complete failure. ‘I had enough savings to get me through a few months. I thought I’d find something before then. You sure you want honesty?’

‘Well, I’m your brother, and you’re obviously calling me for help, so yeah, I’m sure I want honesty.’

‘He sold the apartment too.’

‘If you’re coming here, you don’t need it.’

‘That’s not the problem, Riv. I put my entire trust fund into that apartment when we bought it, and he only gave me fifty grand back.’

‘What?’ he snaps, his voice dripping with irritation. ‘Hestolethe money you paid for it?’

Did hestealit? Obviously, he’s going through something right now, but is hesteal-from-his-girlfriendevil? I didn’t think so. At least not until right this second.

‘I don’t know. Maybe the sale hasn’t gone through yet? Maybe he forgot? I don’t know how condo sales work.’

‘You don’t forget that kind of money, Hols. That fucker pocketed it, I’m sure of it. He’s been manipulating you for years. Of course the bastard stole it,’ he growls into the phone. ‘Stay where you are. I’m coming there.’

‘No!’ I say, standing from the steps. That’s the last thing I need. Once, when he came to visit me, he ended up in jail when he and Tristan got into it.

I put the phone on speaker, set it on the top of the cheesecake in the box, and head into my building.

‘Let’s just give him a bit. In case something is going on with the sale I don’t know about.’

‘I don’t mind coming up there and kicking his ass. I’dloveto do it.’

‘Yes,’ I say. ‘I know. But the last thing I need to deal with is you in jail,again.’ I jab the elevator button. ‘If I thought that would help, trust me, I’d be on board. I just…’ I pause, shoving away my emotions. ‘Can you pick me up at the airport tomorrow morning?’

‘Hello, Hollyn.’ Mrs Hunt from the third floor steps into the building, waiting for the elevator with me. ‘You alright, dear?’

‘Is she ever?’ River answers for me.

---