Page 36 of Coveted Justice

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“Ijust wanted to hear your voice.”

Amanda had gone for a walk and called her boyfriend Derek, needing someone to talk to. She’d blown up at her parents and she wasn’t happy about how she’d behaved. Her father had called her out, and rightly so. She had been thinking about herself more than her mother. She wasn’t proud of it, but she wasn’t ready to face her parents yet. She was still upset. So much had happened in the last few days and it was all beginning to overwhelm her.

“That’s great. It’s good to hear from you, too,” Derek said. She could hear people in the background. It wasn’t surprising. He was rarely alone. He was an absolute extrovert and thought having a circle of friends around him at all times was essential. “How’s the campaign going?”

“It’s going okay.” She hesitated before continuing. “Did you see the news?”

“About your dad’s ex? I saw it. Pretty wild, huh? Do you think she did it? Hell, she probably did. The spouse is always guilty as hell.”

“I don’t know if she did it, but she’s never seemed like that kind of person. I don’t know her well, though. Did you see Hudson? What he said about my dad?”

There was more noise in the background and Derek whispering to someone, but she couldn’t hear what was being said.

“Uh, I’m not sure. What did he say?”

“He said that my dad is a drunk.”

A lump had formed in her throat making it hard to talk. She’d had to forcefully push out the words. It made her sick to her stomach to even say them.

“I didn’t see that, but it’s just politics. I wouldn’t take it all that seriously. Does your dad drink?”

She’d never told Derek that her father had once had a drinking problem. Honestly, it had never come up and it really wasn’t any of his business. But she’d brought it up now.

“Not anymore. Not for decades.”

“Well, then…who cares what someone else said? I mean…it’s just not a big deal is it? Is your dad upset?”

“No, I don’t think so. But he wouldn’t say if he was. I was really upset about it. This is my father he was talking about. My father is a great man.”

“Of course, he is. He helped catch a couple of serial killers. I’m sure he knows that it’s just mudslinging by his opponent. Politics is dirty at the best of times. Listen, I really need to go. We’re all headed into a meeting, and I need to be prepared. I’ll call you soon.”

“Wait,” she pleaded. “I really need to talk to you. It’s been so crazy around here.”

She heard a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone.

“Listen, I just really don’t have time. Why don’t you call one of your friends?”

“I thought we were friends.”

More than friends, actually.

“We are.” Another sigh. “I’m just not the type to listen to people’s problems, okay? You have girlfriends for that.”

“If you’re not my boyfriend, and you’re not a friend that listens, then what the hell are you?”

Amanda could feel her anger and frustration rising. She’d put up with a great deal of crap from Derek and had never complained.

Or at least she hadn’t complained much.

“I think we should talk later when you’re calmer,” he replied. “I don’t want to speak with you when you’re like this. I’ll call you later.”

This decision had been simmering in the back of her mind for weeks. She was officially done.

“How about you never call me again and lose my number? Then you’ll never have to listen to my problems ever again.”

“I don’t like threats, Amanda. Fine. We’re done. Happy now? You’re going to regret this. Call me when you change your mind.”

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