“Brick–” I warn.
“Sorry, get back to the story. So you’re sure it was him on the audio?”
“After ten minutes of complete shock, I listened to it multiple times to be sure. It was definitely him.”
“You have to also have to take the source in account. Whoever this woman is, probably made the recording to purposely hurt you.”
“Her motives don’t really matter to me. I knew Elijah was a controlling dick, but I didn’t know he was a liar and a cheater.”
“Controlling?”
I ignore that.
“Actually, that girl did me a huge favor. She gave me undeniable proof of what’s going on between the two of them, and now I can move on.”
“And you’re sure this recording wasn’t made before you two were together?”
“I heard a television commercial in the background for this year’s Macy’s parade on New Year’s Day.”
“I don’t follow.”
“That was a local commercial and Elijah’s family is from a part of Connecticut close to New York City. He told me he was spending Christmas with his family, which wasn’t a total lie. The part he forgot to mention was that the woman was there with him, too. In fact, it turns out that she is the girlfriend and I’m the side chick. I just didn’t know it.”
Unfortunately, I can’t hold back my emotions anymore and I let out the ugly cry I’ve been holding inside for a while. Saying what happened out loud and in front of someone just made them all the more real. I’ve been a complete fool.
Brick watches me for a moment, then hands me a small travel pack of tissues out of his glove compartment to wipe my nose.
“The last time I saw you cry like this, it was because you ran your bike into Miss Helen’s azalea bushes and the kids on the block laughed at you.”
“Be quiet!”
I blow my nose loudly.
“You’re nobody’s side chick,” he says in an oddly calm voice, like he’s afraid I’m going to try to kill myself next.
“That’s nice of you to say but–”
“I’m not being nice.” He grins. “Since when have I been nice to you?”
“That’s true. You’ve never really been that nice of a guy.”
“Okay,” he chuckles. “Since we’re both in agreement about that, you should listen to me, right? You’re nobody’s side chick and your ex is an idiot.”
I finish blowing my nose again and then dig into my purse for a bottle of sanitizer.
Ugh, I’m so gross.
“I hate men.”
“You shouldn’t blame our whole gender for one dude’s stupidity.”
“I’m starting to think your entire gender may be the downfall of humanity. I haven’t met one guy yet who can prove to me otherwise, even my own brother–”
“Is a reformed playboy,” he interrupts.
“Yeah, but poor Dena–”
“Is getting married to the love of her life,” he adds.
