Page 15 of The Marriage Deal
We all know we’re not talking just about animals anymore, of which Madelyn has alot. I ignore the weight of my friend’s eyes as they watch me stare into my wine, hot tears threatening to spill over. I catch my lip between my teeth to snag the tremble, inhaling big through my nose.
“Are you ever going to tell us what happened between you and Michael?”
One of those hot, stinging tears spills over. I wipe at it angrily, even a little frantically. I hate that I haven’ttold them all of what happened. How he broke my heart, my trust, and my future in the span of six months.
“He broke my heart in the worst way.” It’s all I can say.
They think he cheated. I wish he had.
Wish it was all he’d done.
Tara leans closer, touching her hand to my calf and squeezing gently. “We’re here if you need us, you know that, right?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“And you know we’d totally bury the body—you know—if he hurt more than your heart, right?”
In a perfect world, I’d totally sic Tara on Michael. The sorry excuse of a man deserves it, that’s for sure.
“Thanks. I think.” I laugh lightly at Tara’s words, because she’s always been the real one. The one you’d call in a big old bind. Too bad my bind is really fucking expensive.
“Tara’s batshit crazy,” Madelyn adds. “But it’s true. Anything you need, we’re there for you, Lilah.” Because she’s Madelyn, she teases, “I could probably dig a mean hole, just saying.”
“Guys, stop. I don’t want to cry.” I also can’t tell them the truth. The whole truth. That I was a massive fool to think a man like Michael was real. That he loved me like he said he did. That we were going to have that big, bright future he talked about after he fucked me.
God, I’m so ashamed.
But I’m also not willing to wallow. The past is the past and all I can do is keep on walking forward. One step at a time. One day at a time. One paycheck at a time.
I’ll dig myself out of the hole Michael whatever-his-name-is—dug for me. Eventually.
“You’re home now.” Tara gives me another squeeze before she pushes back onto her own pillow. “That’s all that matters.”
“Well, that and a certain tall someone with green eyes and a killer-sexy grin.”
My mouth drops as my eyes pop wide. “Ummm—do you want to go to dinner with him?”
“Girl, nuh-uh he chose you and I’m not stepping on those toes. They’re too cute.” She shoots me another mischievous smile and I wiggle the pink painted toes in question. “Seriously, though. Briggs is hot and you’re going to dinner with him. I gotta know, babe.Doyou like him?”
Madelyn narrows her eyes on the lips I twist to the side. Tara leans forward, and I swear she’s holding her breath. Slowly, I answer, “To be decided.”
8
JUST BUSINESS
LILAH
Mom leans against the wall between the kitchen and living room of my childhood home, steaming mug of tea clutched between her hands. Her eyes trail down my body and then back up again. A small frown tips the corners of her mouth, and my heart gives a quick flutter in response.
“I can’t tell if you’re going to a date, an interview, or a funeral.”
“Gee, Mom.” I look down at the black slacks I’ve cinched at the waist with a shiny gold belt, paired with a pretty red blouse I’ve tucked in and left unbuttoned enough to give a fairly decent tease. “I wouldn’t wear this to a funeral. Is this somethingyou’dwear to a funeral?”
“She would if she wanted to wake the dead.” Dadlumbers into the room, giving me a gently assessing gaze before cocking his brow. “That’s a hell of a shirt, kiddo. You trying to knock him dead, or just Old Mr. Powels?”
“Old Mr. Powels isn’t likely to be perusing the streets of Sunset Falls at this hour, Dad.” I glance down at myself again. “Is it really that bad?”
Dad chuckles. “No. You’re beautiful as always.”
