Come on, Janine is the best character!
@theanswerisno:
Nope, she’s a liar
@pancakesareelite:
She didn’t murder anyone, like Lisa. There are worse things than a little lie
@theanswerisno:
I struggle with lies
After spending exactly thirty-five minutes pacing my living room, I needed to get out, as far as I could… even if it was just for a few days. And maybe, maybe when I returned, I’d be able to sort through the hurricane in my mind and the mess I’d created.
I considered going to my mother, but if she got the slightest idea this had anything to do with a woman, especially the womanshe’d met, she’d want me to fix it, and I wasn’t ready. I didn’t know how.
On the other hand, if she knew it all jeopardized my career, I don’t know what she’d say. But I didn’t need another voice in my head right now.
I turned my phone on and shot Anders a text letting him know I’d be in Disselweed a few days early. My phone exploded with notifications, and I shut it off again. Maybe I never needed to turn it on ever again.
A loud bang on my apartment door was followed by Claire’s voice. “Lincoln?”
I trudged over, knowing I’d have to talk to her sooner or later, and let her in.
She pushed through the doorway with Dean behind her. “Couldn’t you send a text letting me know you were okay?”
“Phone’s off.” I held up the dark screen and shifted on my feet.
Her brows drew close. “Are you okay?”
“What do you think? Elizabeth is… Lily is…” I said, unable to keep my emotions contained. I felt incredibly unregulated.
“I think you should talk tome, your friend.”
“Like you spoke to me when you two almost got divorced?” I gestured between her and Dean and immediately regretted it.
She flinched but didn’t waver. “Exactly. That is exactly why I should have spoken to you earlier. Dean and I were so busy trying to parent and juggle work that we didn’t even realize how far apart we’d drifted. What did you do when I eventually opened up to you?”
I shifted on my feet, my anger falling.
Claire answered for me. “You practically knocked our heads together and told us to talk it out. You changed everything, Lincoln.” She looked at Dean. “I went back to therapy because of you.”
“I’m glad it worked.” I gulped and walked away. Dammit, I was pacing again. “I’m not in a good space right now. I needed to get away from that moment, and the crowd, and the noise. I need time to process.”
“That makes sense,” Dean said, and offered Claire an apologetic sideways glance. “A lot of the problems Claire and I had were because I didn’t have any time or space to process. Space could be good. Clear your mind.”
Claire fell onto my couch. “You’re going to have to speak to her.”
“No.”
“You work together,” she said.
I pulled a face. Of course I knew that.
“Are you going to skip work on Monday?”
I nodded.
