“Damn, because I was hoping he’d have one for me.”
I had to laugh again. “What the hell, Sela?”
“You want me to cut through the bullshit for you?” she asked. “Like, for real?”
“No, for fake. Of course, for real!”
“Simmer down, sassy pants.”
I scowled at the old nickname but didn’t say anything. I genuinely wanted to hear what she had to say.
“You ready?” she asked.
“Yes, Sela. Just tell me already.”
“Okay. I’m assuming, since you didn’t give me details, you don’t want to tell me exactly what he lied about?”
“Right.”
“Then, you’re going to have to cut through some of this yourself. I want you to put yourself in his position. If it’s the thing you would have done or, at the very least, seriously considered doing, you should give him another chance. If you can understand his motives and his lie didn’t involve cheating, death, taxes, money, or a sexual favor that you definitely would never consider, then he’s probably worth a shot.”
“Those are your only parameters?” I asked.
“There’s more, but you’re a smart girl. If you can understand why he did what he did. Or if you know in your heart that he wasn’t acting maliciously, well…”
I sighed. “Okay. I see your point.” Then, I realized something. “I haven’t heard from him in twenty-four hours.”
She scoffed. “He knows he fucked up. He’s giving you time to calm down.”
“How do youknowall of this stuff?” I asked. “You’re an only child just like me.”
“I’ve dated more assholes than you.”
We both laughed at that because it was painfully true. Sela was a dick magnet, in both the literal and figurative sense. Men flocked to her because she was beautiful and sweet, but she always seemed to attract the most massive assholes.
“What does your gut say?” she finally asked.
I groaned. “How many body parts do I have to listen to?”
“Huh?”
“Bernie told me to listen to my heart and my soul. Now, you’re telling me to listen to my gut. And my brain won’t shut up about how he lied to me.”
Sela laughed. “Okay, so what do your heart and soul say?”
“That he’s mine.”
She was quiet for a long moment. “Oh, fuck. You’re never coming back to Tennessee, are you?”
I didn’t answer out loud, but we both already knew the truth. I was staying in Devil Springs.
“Dammit, Cari! Why couldn’t you fall in love with a nice hillbilly here at home?”
I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me. “I don’t know.”
She sighed. “Okay, screw your heart and soul. What does your gut say?”
“To give him another chance.”
