I sink onto the couch and twist my hands together.I thought bringing Gen to Lake Tahoe would be a good thing.I can’t believe she’s putting herself back in the same situation she escaped.
Gen shuts the front door behind her and presses her back to it, her eyes closed.I spring up in full attack mode.“What the hell, Gen?What are you doing with that guy?”I point forcefully at the window and Lewis, his head turned as he reverses out of the driveway.
Gen presses her fingers to her temples.“He’s not that bad, Cali.Simmer down.”She looks up.“It’s not what you think.”
“You’re doing it all over again!”I’m stressed and taking it out on my BF, but I can’t stop.The stress of what I need to do—what I should do to keep my independence—is making me crazy.“Did you learn nothing the first time?Get a clue, Gen, this guy is using you!”
Her hands fist at her sides.“And you know so much about men?Did you know Eric hit on me?He wanted to sleep with me, Cali.”
Her words knock my head back.“What?”
“I’m sorry.I should have told you sooner.”
Gen’s phone buzzes.She checks it, then storms into our bedroom while I stand in the doorway, stunned.She takes off her sneakers—are her clothes wet?—and pulls a pair of sandals out of the closet, along with a fresh top and bottoms.
“I tried to tell you that day at Eagle Lake,” she continues, “but you said things were fine between you two.”She sits and puts on her sandals, then pauses, hands on her thighs.“After you and Eric broke up, I told myself I’d be kicking you when you were down.I didn’t want to cause you more pain.I panicked and more time passed.”
I’m frozen.“What are you talking about?”
Gen whips off her T-shirt and pulls the new top over her head, arms poking through the sleeve holes.She turns to me.“Do you remember when I drove Eric to the store to pick up sunscreen while you were in the shower the first weekend in town?”I nod.“He came up behind me when we were there and wrapped his arms around my waist.He kissed my neck.”
My head thrusts forward like a hound’s.“What the fuck!Why are you only telling me this now?”
“I was still getting over the A-hole and not thinking clearly.It freaked me out.I worried you’d get the wrong idea and believe I led Eric on.You don’t know what it’s like.”
“Are you kidding me?You’re seriously telling me that guys lusting after you is a hardship that forces you to betray yourbest—fucking—friend.” I can’t help the F-bombs.They surface when I’m furious.
She shakes her head, her eyes agonized.“That’s not what happened.That’s not what I’m saying.”
“What are you saying?”
Gen grabs her purse and drapes it across her chest.Her cheeks are attractively flushed from whatever the hell she was doing with her new cheating boyfriend, and her pink blouse, shorts, and sandals fit her tall, lithe body to perfection.I sort of hate her right now.
Her hands twist in the long strap of her purse.“He said he’d always been attracted to me.”She looks away, voice light, lips barely moving.“That things were fizzling between you two and that you’d basically become friends.”
I sink onto the mattress, my head in my hands.Bastard.I can’t believe he called me, and I allowed him to make me feel bad.I don’t care what kind of job he got or how good his life is.He’s a piece of shit.
I look up, pointedly.“What did you say to him?”
“No!I said no!I never wanted that.He made me feel… dirty.I would never…”
That’s what was bothering her the day of the hike when we first arrived in Tahoe.Not thoughts of her A-hole ex, but that my shithead boyfriend had made a pass at her.
She walks up and rests her hand lightly on my shoulder.“Cali, we need to talk, but I have to go or I’ll be late for work.I’m sorry, okay?”
I don’t look up.I don’t answer.Gen sighs and walks out of our bedroom.The front door shuts a moment later, punctuating the finality of this moment.
When Gen and I first arrived in Tahoe, she was the broken one and I was her support.Now, we’re both broken and there’s a gulf between us.
What is happening?
I can’t believe I’m questioning Gen’s loyalty.She’s always been there for me.It wasn’t her fault Eric is a jerk.She was put in a bad position.Who knows what I would have done in her place?
The more hours that pass,the more I regret my anger toward Gen.I overreacted and took out my pain on her.I was hyped up and agitated before she walked in the door for reasons that had nothing to do with her.She should have told me about Eric, but anyone would be hesitant.Who would be eager to tell a friend that her boyfriend hit on them?
I could wait for Gen to come home to talk, but that doesn’t seem good enough.I’m not excited to face the critical looks from my old coworkers at Blue, but I can’t let things stand the way they are.I’ll try to catch Gen on her break and apologize for the way I reacted.
I go out into the living room and Tyler walks in the door.
