Bailey makes an offended sound and gently elbows Tonya, making me laugh.
"I'll do it, Bailey. For you," I say, before I add, my voice clogged with emotion. "And for anyone I can help."
Bailey squeals, causing Tonya to bark a laugh and me to giggle at her exuberance.
How could anyone say no to Bailey?
Chapter Thirty
Sophie
After I'm dropped off at my apartment, I quickly grab a bite to eat—thank you, Donna, and your weekly casserole drop off—and then reapply my lipstick. My reflection smiles back at me in my bathroom mirror, remembering Callum shaving my head. I had figured Callum would bring over his own electric razor, but instead, he had bought one for me, a really pretty pink one that worked so gently on my head, along with his delicate touch.
His care always floors me, and while I hate comparing him to Paul—because there really is no comparison—I can't help but compare their actions.
With Callum, I feel taken care of.
For so long, six years, and even before that with any man I dated, I've done the caring, the organizing, the ordering, the cooking, and the cleaning. I shouldered that load because I had thought that was just relationships, that I was just showing my love.
But when Callum comes over, he's grabbing our dinner plates and loading them into the dishwasher for me. When I fell asleep on him during our last hangout, he had loaded some of my laundry into the washer, folded the blankets we used, and tucked me into bed. The other day, he noticed I was low on toothpaste and hand soap, and picked up the exact ones I like when he went food shopping for himself and his mom. He picked up those chocolate hazelnut candies for me while he was there, too,just because.
I’ve been experiencing some neuropathy in my feet for the last week, and he bought me some compression socks and rubbedmy feet for me while we watched a movie. I feel so cherished and treasured by him. I just hope I can return the favor and care for him.
One day, when I'm on the other side of this, I'm going to make sure that this relationship of ours is always cohesive and symbiotic.
Callum deserves it.
And you know—I think I might deserve his care too.
Grabbing my purse, I decide to walk toRivers & Rhodesinstead of driving. It's the early afternoon, and the October sun is making all the beautiful colors of New England Autumn vibrant and bright.
The town's decorated for Halloween, silly scarecrows made by the kids in town tied to every lamppost, and spooky decals on the shop windows. I walk down Main Street with a confident bounce in my step, no doubt from the wig I'm wearing. I feel beautiful, I feel like me, and I'm going to see the man that I love.
It's a great day.
Well, I had thought so.
I walk up to the front door, reach for the handle, and freeze.
Elise.
She's in the store that's quickly become my safe place, and she's talking to Callum—myCallum.
And she sees me and lets me know it.
She's wearing red as well, like some cruel joke from the universe—let's compare and contrast the mistress and the woman whose fiancé she slept with:which one is better?
She looks right at me and smirks, leaning forward on the register counter and practically pushing her generous breasts out of the beautiful, painted-on dress she's wearing. She looks amazing—beautiful, honestly—just like I had thought when I first met her.
But back then, it didn't bother me. I had trusted that Paulloved me—would choose me over anyone. No matter if they were more beautiful, had a better body, were smarter, or more successful. I had thought Paul had loved me above all because of who I am.
Then I was proven wrong.
That's not my failing, as much as my insecurity wants me to think it is. That's his, and he has to live with that.
Butwhyis she here? Because I don't believe for a second she's in the store for innocent reasons, not from the smirk on her face. It's victorious, taunting, and... just downright mean. Why is she here and not with Paul? Did he cheat on me for something that didn’t even last, or are they still together and she just wants to keep making me feel small? What did I ever do to her?
I'll never put the blame on her alone for Paul cheating, but I won't just excuse her for sleeping with him. Not when she knew about me, when she had the option to be a decent person and say no.
