Page 104 of A False Start
When I told my parents the full story that night I called to talk about rehab, they’d been stoic. I wanted them prepared. As usual, they were painfully supportive—but I’m not dumb enough to think it didn’t gut them.
Preparing the people you love to be publicly embarrassed by you is a hard pill to swallow.
Luckily, for once, things are turning up Griffin.
“The only thing I’ve seen are the wedding photos with Elvis,” Stefan continues, eyes on the road. “And hilariously, the general response to those has come in two camps.” I lift a brow at him to go on. “People who think you look hot and people who think she’s, and I’m quoting here,a manipulative bitch.”
I cringe a little bit. I obviously don’t like Tonya, but I’m still the drunk idiot who did it. That said, I’m not mad that this campaign has blown up in her face.
The only person I’m mad at is myself. For doing this to myself. But even that is getting better. After a month spent with daily therapy, counseling, and even speech therapy, I’m feeling like I know myself better than I ever have.
I’m feeling motivated.
“I guess that’s why she’s agreed to mediation rather than some big court drama. Tucking tail.”
“Good.” Stefan’s knuckles go white on the steering wheel. The only clue that she pisses him off more than he lets on.
A companionable silence stretches between us as we drive down the main highway back out to Ruby Creek until he breaks it.
“Is that special cargo in the back for my sister?”
I swallow and roll my lips together before quietly replying. “Yeah.”
“Is that why you had me haul that trailer down there?”
“Yeah.” My heart twists. I hope so fucking badly that this works.
“I’m sorry this has been such a bumpy road for you.”
I clear my throat and suck air in through my nostrils, trying to keep it together. “She’s worth it.”
My best friend just smiles. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“So much it hurts,” is my honest reply.
His smile grows. “Good.”
That’s when the greenhouse shows up in the distance on the right-hand side of the road. I point at it. “Pull in there, you fucking masochist.”
He laughs as he signals.
I pull out the list in my back pocket, praying like hell my plan will be enough to win her back.
Or at the very least, make her smile. So I can live my life knowing that all her dreams came true.
39
Nadia
I tapmy pen against the textbook laid out in front of me. Midterms are upon me. Halfway through my first semester of vet school.
I feel accomplished. I feel challenged. I feel over-fucking-whelmed.What was I thinking?I had a nice, safe job. Was on the path to make a great living. I had a man who loved me.
And I gave it all up forthis.
Stress. Never-ending reading. And late nights spent with that dick-wad voice who lives in my head and tells me I’m not good enough. He sounds suspiciously like my dick-wad father, which makes me want to crush him even harder.
I lean back in my chair and press the heels of my hands into my eye sockets. Swear I can’t even see straight anymore. I’m about to hit that point in studying where you thinkIf I don’t know it by now, I’m probably not going to know it at all.
