Page 5 of Georgia: Britain's Story: Part 1
Also, Caroline's softball game is this Saturday. I’m planning to be there, just wanted to give you a heads up.
Damian
Thanks Britain. We’ll be there as well.
We’ll be there…shit.I tap back a thumbs up, then flip back to my Slack thread with Jess.
Britain
Okay, can Tommy stay home with Eden tomorrow? I need to do some shopping. Meet at the Galleria at 10? Please say yes ??
Jess
You okay? You hate shopping. And obviously Tommy can stay home tomorrow. IDGAF if he had a meeting with the president, I’d tell him to cancel. See you at 10!!!
lol, y'all are the best.
I hate shopping.No, I hate shopping for clothes. Antiques, pottery, art, I’m all in. Clothes, not so much. For years I didn’t have the kind of money to freely spend on clothes. Then for the next few years, I was in maternity and postpartum purgatory, and then I was living that remote work/soccer mom life, complete with the Lululemon leggings and sweatshirt uniform.
I’ve been in the fitting room for three hours while Jess whips around pulling everything under the sun that might be a good fit to wear to see my husband’s young and hot future wife,butstill appropriate for a high-school softball game. I had to nix Jess’ plea to wear the “sky high” Louboutins. I placated her by adding them to the “purchase pile” and promised to wear them soon, however, they wouldnotbe making an appearance at Caroline’s game tomorrow.
“You know, if you just let me hire a stylist for you, we wouldn’t have to be doing this right now,” Jess snarks at me. I guess I’ve been a tough customer.
“And if you had hired a stylist, we’d be at my office doing edits all day instead ofthis,” I say, waving my hands around. “Neiman Marcus, followed by a cocktail-fueled lunch, then closing out the day with pedicures and facials. Tough day at the office, huh?” I finish with a smirk.
“True. I’ll shut up now.”Uh huh.Jess is my assistant, work wife, all-around bestie, and one stylish-ass bitch. Once I gave her thewhyfor our spur-of-the-moment shopping trip, she immediately sprang into action, putting me in a dressing room with firm orders to stay put as she racked and stacked options.
“But, just so you know, I’m making you buy anything I pick out that fits. I’ve been dying to revamp your wardrobe foryears,” she shoots back at me. I chuckle, I would expect nothing less.
“Better yet, how about you take note of my sizes and then you can order me a whole new wardrobe so that way you’re not stuck having to choose from what they have here, right now?” Jess’s eyes go wide in excitement and she bobs her head up and down in affirmation.
“Oh my gawd, yes!” This time I laugh out loud.
“Okay, good, because I need a drink and to get the hell out of this fitting room. Think we have at least a couple decent options for tomorrow?” My eyes drift to the mound of clothes, shoes, and accessories in the ‘purchase pile.’
“Definitely,” she affirms.
“Thank god.”
“So, Tommy told me Damian proposed a settlement…”
Jess broaches the topic cautiously in between sips of her margarita. “But I promise, I don’t know any of the details. Tommy just mentioned he was sending off a proposed settlement for ‘some client Imayormay notbe acquainted with,’ scout’s honor!” she says as she holds up her right hand, looking very serious.
Jess’s husband, Tommy, is Damian’s personal, legal counsel. Even so, Jess has assured me numerous times that Tommy is “Team Britain.” Ironically, the two of them actually met because of us, and are the cutest fucking couple who just had their first baby, Eden, five months ago. I feel a slight pang of jealousy at the thought of their happy little family, which in turn makes me feel ridiculous.
“Mmm…” I say as I swallow a huge gulp of my own margarita. “Yeah, I got the papers on Wednesday. I’m not going to contest it. It’s generous.”
“As it should be!” Jess says indignantly. I laugh, but I don’t wholeheartedly believe I’m entitled to this generous of a settlement. I may not have been unfaithful like Damian, but I was never completely honest with him either. I never gave him all of myself. All my feelings and vulnerabilities, my past experiences, I kept those to myself.
Taking a deep breath, I mentally gather the courage to tackle something I’ve been needing to do.
“Now that I have a clearer picture of what to expect from Damian…I think it’s probably for the best if I leave Scott Technologies.” I’ve been dreading telling Jess this; my sole hesitation in leaving is because of her. “I’ve already put some thought into this, though. If you want, I’d be happy to recommend you for my position, or any other position in the company if you’d prefer to move on from design. OR if you want to stay on as my personal assistant full time, even part time, that would work, too!”
I pause, inhaling. On the exhale, I let it go, “I just don’t think I can bring myself to ever go back to that office. To see him, and her,together.There.”Ugh, I cringe. “If you hate me though, and never want to see me again, I understand that, too.” I know I’m sounding desperate, but Jess is the only healthy, adult relationship I have in my life right now. I can’t lose it.
“Girrrl, chill. There’s no way I’m staying there if you’re leaving. I’ve been hoping and praying that you’d leave for months now.”
“Whaaaat?” I gasp, shocked.
