Page 121 of The True Garza
“Yeesh. You sure know how to hold a grudge.”
“Whatdo you want, Jules?”
“I have a flat. Please come help me.”
“Your husband’s back, call him.”
“He’s not close. You are.”
“Sorry, but I can’t even look at you anymore without getting angry. Call someone else.”
“Seriously, True?” Is that a sniffle? “You’re just gonna leave me out here in the middle of the night? If I get kidnapped again, it’ll be all on you. Ben will never forgive you. Or Lyra. Or Tor. Or—”
“For fuck’s sake. Ping me your location.”
I end the call.
Jules is on my shitlist for setting London up with that clown. Thought she was my homie, but she fucked me over. Because she “didn’t want me to hurt London.” Well, London looks pretty fucking grand from here.I’mthe one left dangling off a fucking bridge. Everyone was ‘looking out’ for her, as if I’m some monster who would’ve gnawed her down to the bones. Why wasn’t anyone looking out forme?
“Fuck you, London,” I spit, speeding off from the curb. “‘In love’ with me, my ass.”
Eleven minutes later, I arrive at Jules’s pinged location. But it isn’t her white Mercedes that’s parked outside a neighborhood playground, it’s Reuben’s pickup. And all four tires look damn fine to me.
Instead of parking, I pull up alongside the pickup and touch the horn.
Jules jumps out from the passenger side at the same time the driver’s window lowers down, revealing Reuben.
“What the fuck, Ben?”
The son of a bitch just shrugs.
Jules rounds the pickup, skips up to my window and shoves a jewelry box with gift bow at me. “I remember you checking this out at the jewelry store. So I bought it—”
“With my money,” Reuben interrupts, sounding tired.
“—as an apology gift. Please accept it. I’m so, so sorry, True. I didn’t know you liked her that much.”
I take the velvety box and flip it open. It’s a gold Cuban link bracelet. I don’t remember checking this out. Not my style. But Idoremember eyeing a golden charm bracelet, thinking it would look sexy on London’s delicate wrist. Even went back and bought it after dropping Jules off, but never got around to giving it to her. This must’ve been beside the charm bracelet for Jules to think I was checking it out.
She should’ve left it alone, though, because all this ‘gesture’ has done is remind me that there’s a gift I never got to give London.
I shove it back at her. “Not interested.”
“Please, True. I feel horrible,” she whines. “You’re the only one aside from Lyra who truly looks out for me when Ben isn’t here. And I really appreciate your friendship. I didn’t mean to upset you in anyway.Pleaseforgive me.”
“Just take the damn thing, True, so I can go home and fuck my wife.”
“Ben!” Jules scolds, turning to slap her husband on the arm.
“What? You think I like that my wife’s thinking about another man’s feelings and buying him gifts? When was the last time you bought me a gift?”
“I’mall the gift you need,” she snaps with another slap.
“Here, you can have mine.” I throw the jewelry box through his window.
Reuben catches it and sighs. “Just forgive her, True. She’s sorry and all that.”
Jules makes the most pitiful face at me. “Please stop being mad at me, True.”
