Emily cradled her aching hand, astounded at what Trent had done, but even more so at what she’d done. Why had no one ever told her how much it hurt to hit someone? Surely that sort of information ought to be relayed to everyone who came of age. When Emily first had her period, her mother bought her a book entitledBecause You’re A Woman Now. She should have found one calledPunching People Hurts Like A Bitch.
“I’m calling the police,” said Veronica, pulling out her cell phone. “You assaulted him.”
“Call them. Call the goddamn Mounties, for all I care.” Emily turned to Trent. “Let’s hear what Trent has to say. What do you think,babe? Care to press charges?”
“Put the phone away, Ronnie.” He scrambled to his feet.
“Ronnie.” Emily cackled. “That’s rich. Hey, thanks for your cooperation,Ronnie.”
Trent rubbed his cheek. “I deserved that one.”
“You deserve another one. No, several.”
“I’ve been an ass. Let me explain.”
“Please do. I’m in desperate need of entertainment.”
His blue eyes seemed so cold as he finally met her gaze. “What did you expect? Did you think it was easy for me to see you with those Zorn brothers?”
“What exactly do you think I’m doing with the Zorn brothers? We’re fixing a house, not having a goddamned orgy.”
“I’m not stupid. I see the way Michael Zorn looks at you.”
“Wait…”
“And I see the way you look at him.”
Emily had to shut her gaping mouth. “You’re actually trying to blame me for your indiscretion. This takes the cake.” She turned to Veronica. “From one woman to another, please, how long have you been seeing him?”
She glanced at Trent and then at the floor. “About six months.”
“Thank you.” Emily turned back to Trent as she wrenched her engagement ring from her finger and tossed it to him, not caring when he dropped it and it rolled perilously close to a sewer grate. Maybe if she prayed hard, the tacky bauble would fall into the drink and be lost forever in an abyss of shit and piss. A girl could hope. “Go to hell, Trent.”
“Em, please.”
As Emily walked away, she spoke to Veronica once more. “I liked you, so I’m going to offer you a bit of advice.”
“There’s no need.”
“Too bad. You’re going to listen. He cheated on me. He’ll cheat on you too.”
“Trent loves me.”
“No, sister. Trent loves himself.”
With one last glare at her ex-fiancé, she turned and marched down the street toward her condo. She didn’t stop moving until she was in the building and past security. If she stopped moving, she’d burst into tears and she would not allow it. Seized by a moment of weakness in the elevator, Emily’s eyes watered, but she blinked the moisture away. Too bad she couldn’t swallow the lump of burlap in her throat. She pounded the button for the tenth floor and thanked her stars no one else got in the elevator with her. Once she was on her floor, she sped toward her door and unlocked it.
Emily walked inside her unit, numb, and tossed her purse on the hall table. She closed the door behind her and locked it, wanting to lock out the world.
Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater.Had a fiancée but couldn’t keep her.
She’d been foolish. What an idiot.
When her cell phone rang inside her purse, she jumped. Emily gawked at her handbag, wondering if Trent might somehow burst from it. It figured he wouldn’t leave her to her misery. He refused to talk to her for months and now he wouldn’t leave her alone. How had he ever managed to drag himself away from his girlfriend in order to place the call? What a multitasker.
She marched over to the table and yanked her phone out of her purse, not even sure what she would say. She read the display.
It was Michael. Guilt, anger, and relief waged war in her stomach. She tasted her coffee again but it had soured.
