Page 24 of Falling Hard
8
INSIDE I'M DYING
Despite my life falling apart,there was no reason my girly bits should look like the Secret Garden, so I booked a wax session with Gennie. I declined the numbing cream; the pain of having hair ripped from my most delicate parts was nothing compared to the torture that was my life.
"How have you been, Olivia?"
God, I wished people would stop asking me that. Part of me wondered if they'd always been this caring and I just hadn't noticed. In all of five minutes, I had Gennie caught up on Luke and the devil who clung to him.
"So she stole your man?"
I clenched my teeth as the strip ripped away, leaving behind a trail of fire and freshly bare skin.
Whoa, wait a minute, I couldn't sleep with her thinking Soleil Moon Frye had the power to take Luke from me. "No way. She just snuck in when I wasn't looking, and now she's in too deep."
Gennie yanked another strip, and I regretted my earlier talk of not needing numbing cream. That was my problem, wasn't it? I never assessed the situation correctly. If I had, Soleil Moon Frye would still be a passing fling, not a fiancée.
"This man that you've known since nursery school is choosing her over you?"
Was she even listening? When did Gennie hear me say that? "No. Luke doesn’t know how I feel."
My wax girl of a whole year looked down at me and shook her head. "You're fighting for a man who doesn't even know you want him. You're desperate to take him away from a woman who isn't aware you two are even in competition?"
Her blunt words cut into me. I hated how true they were, and that made me unhappy.
"Two of my girlfriends say I should just tell Luke and see what he says."
"Those are the only two smart friends you've got, if you ask me." Unfortunately, I did, even if I didn't like the answer.
After waxing,I headed home for a nap. My girlfriends suggested we meet for lunch and a movie, but I needed my rest. Plus, I'd already promised my sister we'd go do retail therapy. That was the only kind they could strong-arm me into last night.
After an hour of shut-eye, I jumped up. Jacqueline must have been here already. Yesterday, we were interrupted at work by Dad. Then, last night, Mother was around. I knew my sister would demand the whole story, and I sighed. There was no explaining my almost arson. I wasn't thinking clearly anymore. Still, there was no point putting it off. I left the room and headed downstairs.
"There you are. Sleep well?" my sister asked as she handed me a cup. After retrieving the coffee, I took a sip. Yuck, it wasn’t from my favorite spot.
"Nope, I haven’t been sleeping well for a while," I admitted, then moved around the kitchen island. I could feel Jacqueline’s eyes on me, watching with a quiet, suspicious focus that made my shoulders tense. "Can you cut it out? I had a slip in my judgment. Just couldn’t stand thinking of Soleil Moon Frye marrying Luke in one of our dresses."
Jacqueline lowered her own cup and studied me. "Honestly, I thought you were over Luke. Once in college, you mentioned having a thing for him, but like always, you moved on really quickly."
"I had no choice," I mumbled.
Jacqueline came closer and squeezed my arm. "Tell me the truth. Do I have to worry about you? Yesterday was just a fluke?"
"Yes. Well. It’s just … Luke is mine. Everyone knows it. He’s always been mine, and I was only loaning him to that bitch."
My sister's face tightened, her eyes filled with quiet concern. "Olivia, be serious, Luke's not the only man in New York. He isn't the best looking or richest. Let this woman have him; you can do better."
"No! Luke is the man for me, and it’s time Soleil Moon Frye returns him."
I grabbed my keys and headed toward the door.
Jacqueline followed. "So what’s next? Will you shove Solenne in front of a train?"
"Only if I can manage to get her down in the subway," I joked, then sighed when I realized Jacqueline took my words seriously. "Calm down. I only ruined an ugly dress."
"Just do me one favor: Don’t forget you’re the fucking prize. If Luke Forrester wants to be with that woman, good riddance."
She didn’t understand.
