“Yeah, anyway. I remember one specific time when Amandasaid an old friend from college was visiting. She’d canceled a meeting for it, so I supposed Victoria had dropped in on short notice. Anyway, Victoria was wearing the exact sunglasses, shoes, and coat I saw her in tonight.”
“Anyone could own those clothes.”
“It was those black and red-cherry Louboutins. Other than the height, I’d thought they were pretty, so I looked them up. They’re a limited edition, and I’ve never seen anyone else wearing them. And those glasses, I remember thinking how the diamantés looked like stupid, rich-person eyebrows, like you know how people get diamonds put in their teeth and just look dumb?”
She chuckled. “If you’re right, we should be able to tie her to Piranha Media. So, she must’ve been sending the clients their way after upsetting them on purpose. But why?” She was a lawyer, so I assumed she could work it out, but I’d give her my thoughts anyway.
“To make Curtis look bad. To give her friend some money. Maybe she was getting kickbacks too? Who can say? All I know is that Curtis got shafted, and she’s landed one of the biggest jobs in advertising. I can’t believe I ended up there of all places. What are the odds?”
“Maybe go buy a lottery ticket. In the meantime, I’ll follow this up. I know you can’t prove you saw her at Piranha, but you’ve given me something to work with. I’ll dig as deep as I can. And thanks, Faith. I know helping an ex is hard.”
I sighed. I wanted to hate him, but I could only blame myself for what happened. He was never going to be what I wanted or deserved. It was on me to realize that from the start. Besides, he wasn’t a horrible person, just damaged… like so many of us were. Amy would probably have words with me if she knew I was still making excuses for him. She might be representing him, but she was still my best friend.
“Moooooom, Faith won’t get out of the bathroom. I need to go. I’m desperate.”
“Who’s yelling in the background?”
I laughed. “Brandy needs to go to the toilet, but I’m in here, taking my time.” I stood up and turned the shower on.Enjoy the sounds of running water, Brandy.
“Remind me never to piss you off.”
“You never could.” I pushed down the wave of sadness that my life had been reduced to being a heartbroken single woman locking herself in the bathroom for privacy and amusement. “Anyway, don’t tell him it was me. I don’t want to seem even more pathetic to him. He’s probably already fooling some other unsuspecting woman into falling for him.”
“Oh, Faith. I’m sorry. I don’t think he w?—”
“Save it. It’s okay. I’m going to move on, eventually. I have to go now, before they call the fire department to break the door down. Good luck.”
“Thanks. Also, when are you coming back? I miss you.” She was the sweetest, but as sweet as she was, returning there would be akin to asking a dieting, donut-addicted person to live in a donut shop and be happy not touching the wares. Impossible. Torturous. Just plain mean.
“I miss you too. Bye.” I hung up without answering her question on purpose. I didn’t have the heart to tell her never. I also didn’t want her trying to convince me to return, in case guilt won, and I caved.
I’d found the place I reluctantly belonged.
For better or for worse it was here.
“Faith Harriette Emery, let your sister in this bathroom right now, or you can sleep on the porch tonight.”
I turned the water off and swiped the two toilet rolls next to the toilet. I threw them out the window—to be retrieved in fifteenminutes, when it was too late for Brandy. I quietly shut the window and opened the door to a fire-engine-red-faced Brandy.
I smiled apologetically. “I hope I didn’t make you wait too long.”
She huffed and hurriedly pushed past me. When she slammed the door, it shook the whole house. I looked at my mother. “I need to get gas. I’ll be back later.”
Yep, it was the little things.
CHAPTER 35
FAITH
Irang up Mrs. Floyd’s groceries. “That’ll be forty-eight forty, thanks.” I’d only been working at Spicer’s for a week, but I could put a name to the face in most cases. People were generally friendly, and Megan was a joy to work for. She was fair, kind, and always had a smile on her face. I’d worked a few hours every day, and the second week at Momster’s whilst torturous, wasn’t the worst. I’d been accepted to rent one of the apartments I’d seen last week. I was signing the lease this afternoon. But even though things in my life had improved, that yawning pit in my stomach hadn’t even begun to fill.
I hated myself for missing Curtis, knowing that he’d likely have already moved on and was happy without me. I missed his dimples when he smiled. I missed the warmth of his touch and the way it made my stomach somersault. I missed our fun banter, and I missed him having my back. It was as if I existed in an emptybreezeway during a nuclear winter in an apocalypse—cold, lonely, exposed, hopeless, vulnerable.
Ugh, someone save me from myself.
Mrs. Floyd handed me her money. “Have a lovely day, honey,” she said as she grabbed her bags.
“Thanks. You too.” I dug a smile from the depths of my shriveled interior and turned to serve the next customer.
