“She may not see it that way.”
“No. I definitely won’t.”
Oh, fuck. I look up and see Prudence standing in front of me. “Give me the phone.”
I hand it off without argument.
“Laura?”
“Don’t be pissed at him, Pru. I made him do it.”
“He’s a grown man. He can make his own choices.”
“We care about you, and we hate your ex with a passion.” Laura’s voice sounds panicked. I knew this was a bad fucking idea.
“Good night.” She hangs up the phone, hands it back, and glares at me. “Leave.”
I hate leaving things this way. I know what I did was absolutely fucked up. If the situation had been reversed, I’d probably be angrier than she is now. Part of me wants to take it back, you know, reading her messages, but the other part, the one who knows it was the right thing to do, will give her some time. Not a lot. A day, maybe two. Then, I’ll plead my case.
ChapterNineteen
Prudence
“When areyou going to stop being pissed at me?” My best friend has her hip leaning against the counter on my side of the shop.
“What year is it?”
“Funny.”
“Nothing about what you two did is humorous.” Actually, nothing at all is funny. Not right now. Maybe not anymore or ever again.
Dramatic much, Prudence?
“Look. The guy was blowing up your phone. Nate called me because he was concerned…”
I hold my hand up. I’ve heard this part of the story about twenty times so far. I got it. They think they were attempting to help me––to protect me like I’m so sort of weakling. “I know what youthoughtyou were doing.”
“You can’t keep shutting me out, Pru.”
I arch my brow and look at her with as much disdain as I can muster. It’s not easy. I love my best friend, but she crossed a line and used a guy I barely know to get there. Still. I’m tired of being angry. It takes so much energy, and I need to devote all of that to the new legal battle that Travis set into motion. My lawyer doesn’t sound at all sure she can win this since what Travis said is true, he’s got a family to think about, and I––well, I don’t.
“I’ll need to get a second job.” Not only to pay for the legal fees but for the car payment I’m, no doubt, going to have to pay.
“Why?”
I don’t bother answering. It’d take too long and require more words than I’m willing to give her right now.
Yes, I’m still very angry. Well, hurt. The anger is gone, and what remains is the hurt related to a sense of betrayal. They read all of Travis’s words––the ones about my body are the most embarrassing. I’m used to hearing them, but those weren’t things I shared readily––to anyone. Not even Laura. Yes, I told her he said mean things about me, but I was never specific. Now, they both know the way he speaks to me.
I know those words are on him, but the fact I let him speak to me like that for so long, well, that’s on me.
Why wasn’t I stronger?
Why aren’t I stronger now? I used to be spunky. Now, I’m––weak.
I’m jolted from my self-deprecating thoughts by Laura crying. Laura never cries. Ever. I can only recall one other time when her cat, Montague, died when she was twelve. That was it.
Then, she shouts, “Enough! I’ve had enough. I’m sorry. So fucking sorry, Prudence.” She sniffles. “I made a mistake, but I promise you. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll prove to you that I’m worthy of your friendship again.”
