“I just wished I’d worked out what a whore you were before I moved to this backward-ass town of yours, it could have saved me a fuck-load of time and money.”Doug was pushing up from his seat and throwing his napkin on the steel tabletop a moment later.
Don’t.
She should let him leave.Let it go.She’d already humiliated him.And she was going to leave it, she really was.But then he went and said, “Oh, and just so you know, I lied—yes youhaveput on weight.And no, it’s not fucking sexy.”
Oh, no he didn’t.
“Yeah?”It was her turn to rise from her chair.Her voice louder than it should be as she pointed her finger his way.“Well, I lied, too.Sizedoesmatter, asshole!Especially when you have no idea what to do with it!”
It was petty.She was petty.But he fucking started it.
“Whore!”he yelled.
“Dick!”she called back.“Or should that bemicrodick?”
He was in her face a second later.Her heart going a mile a minute as she got a glimpse of the hate filling his eyes.
“Fuck you, Beth.You’re a shit lay.And once your ex is done pity-fucking you, you’re going to spend the rest of your life alone.Regretting letting go of the only man who was able to stand you.”
Yeah.He hated her alright.She didn’t even have a comeback for that.Not when he’d stolen all the oxygen from her lungs with that slap in the face.
“Get out!”Bethany’s eyes went to Lucy, who was somehow in Doug’s face now.“Take your dumb face and get out of this diner before this pie and I choose violence.”
Doug was storming out before she’d even had a chance to catch her breath.She faintly heard him cursing while other diners applauded his exit as she slumped back into her chair.Her elbows hitting the table as her head fell into her hands.
Well, that was humiliating.
This was not how today was supposed to go.It was supposed to be civilized.It was supposed to be a conversation.Not a shouting match.Not a fight.And when did her best friend grow such big balls?She’d never so much as heard Lucy raise her voice above a normal level before.
“You, okay?”Lucy asked.
“No.”Bethany sighed; her face still buried.“Is everyone looking at me?”
“Um, do you want the truth, or do you want me to lie?”
That pulled out one of her own humorless laughs.“Lie.”
“Ah, okay, then.Denial it is.In that case, no one is looking.No one heard any of that.And Betty definitely did not take a picture to include in the town blog.”
Bethany let out a pained groan.“Fuck my fucking life.”
It just kept getting better and better.
“You look pretty today, though,” Lucy went on.“You’re having a good hair day.”
Bethany uncovered her face and gave her friend a sad smile.“Is that another lie?”
Lucy shook her head.“No.And don’t listen to a word that jerk nugget said.You’re beautiful and kind and smart and anyone would be lucky to be with you.”
“Jerk nugget?” Her smile got bigger.
Lucy shrugged, white teeth peeking out as her smile widened.“Just calling it like I see it.Come on, I’ll buy you some pie.”
Thank God for good friends.And pie.
***
Bethany was relievedto be among friendly faces.Yesterday was brutal.So much so, she’d blown Benny off and gone back to Lucy’s to lick her wounds and devour a tub of ice cream, two packs of Cheetos and a frozen pizza.
