Page 92 of Rich Girl
She bobs her head up and down, looking incredibly proud of herself. “Sure did.”
“But what about your seating chart and all that?”
“Eh,” she shrugs. “It’s kind of last minute, but I think I got it all figured out. We’ll find out on Saturday.”
“That’s really great.”
Her face changes in an instant. “But I really don’t want to not have you there, Hayden.”
I wipe at my face and dig the heels of my hands into my eyeballs until I see stars. I need to snap out of whatever this is.
“Let me use the restroom really quick. Please don’t leave,” I beg her.
Adeline stands up and smooths down her skirt, smiling at me with so much kindness, I feel ashamed for having ignored her for weeks, especially during such an important time of her life.
“I’ll go chat with Maria,” she tells me. “I love the way she says my name.”
She walks out of the bedroom, leaving me with my crazy thoughts. Deciding that I have to push them away, at least for now, I get out of bed. My legs feel weak and shaky, and, for a second, I worry that I won’t make it to the bathroom.
I use the next fifteen minutes by taking a quick shower and brushing my teeth before going into the bedroom to put some clothes on. My hair is still wet, but it feels good. I don’tremember the last time I washed it. Apparently, I hate taking showers now because it makes me think of Ray and his insanely small shower at the apartment.
When I look in my closet, I realize with a start that I don’t have anything cozy to wear. I have plenty of clothes, but nothing like I saw Evie or Carrie wear. In the end, I decide on a pair of buttery soft yoga pants, which I pair with a cropped T-shirt.
Maria fusses over me as soon as I make an appearance in the doorway to the living room.
“Miss Hayden, I will bring you something to eat.”
Adeline, who’s been sitting in one of my comfy chairs, turns her head to smile at me.
“Maria really is so nice. I can’t believe I never just talked to her when I came to your house.”
“She is very good to me,” I agree.
I sit down on the couch, with my knees together and interlaced fingers in my lap. My hair is wet and there’s no makeup on my face. I’m pretty sure Adeline has never seen me like this before, but she doesn’t seem to care.
“I’m sure you have to be feeling a little better,” she smiles at me.
I give her a sheepish smile in return. “A little.”
The expression on her face is one of relief at hearing my words.
“I feel terrible for ruining this time for you, Addie. I have no excuse.”
Adeline watches me thoughtfully, to the point where I feel like I am under a microscope.
“A broken heart is an acceptable excuse,” she finally says. “I’m not sure how I would handle it in your situation.”
My chin gets wobbly as I once again fight the tears.
“It’s not the same,” I protest. “You and Derek have been together for a while. You’re both in love, and you’re gettingmarried. You being crushed like this if he left you would be warranted.”
“Why do you feel that your heartbreak is not warranted?”
I smile at her question. She should be a therapist; she sure has the knack for it.
“We only spent a month together,” I try explaining. “And it started under false pretenses, at least on my part.”
“What were you hoping to get out of it?”
