“Of course I have.”
“Does Art have such a hold on you that you’d jeopardize the happiness of your son?”
“I’m doing this for his happiness.”
“In the beginning you were, but not now.”
“Stay out of my business, Anneli.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? I’m your best friend. Your business is mine. And it’s my job to tell you when you’re fucking up big time. You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I’m not having this conversation.” I open the refrigerator and gather lunch meat, cheese, and mayo for sandwiches before moving to the counter.
“This was his plan all along.” She walks over to stand beside me.
“What are you talking about?”
“The first step is dependence, which he’s accomplished. You depend on him for everything now, which is exactly what he wants. He purposely got you terminated.”
“You’re being ridiculous. Art isn’t a psychic. He couldn’t have known Jerry and I would be walking together.”
“Why was he at the school? Have you ever asked him?”
What if she’s right and my judgment can’t be trusted? My love for him could be blinding me, causing me to overlook the glaring signs right in front of my face. The two people whose opinions I value the most disapprove of my relationship, and in truth, I don’t blame them. Were the roles reversed, I’d feel the same way.
“No, I haven’t, but I can assure you it wasn’t for nefarious purposes. He’s a possessive jealous man. That’s all.”
“He wanted a reason to cause trouble for you. Why can’t you see that?” she asks in frustration.
“Art wasn’t going to hit Jerry until he reached for me.”
“Why are you always defending him?” she yells.
“Keep your voice down,” I whisper. The last thing I need is for my mom to hear the accusations Anneli’s throwing out. She’ll become paranoid all over again.
“Your mother needs to hear this.”
“She’s happy. Don’t ruin the day for her.”
She grudgingly relents, lowering her voice. “I’m pretty sure Art has an undiagnosed case of bipolar disorder. The man needs professional help. My God, Cin, he permanently marked you. Only a crazy person would do that.”
“Art and I may not make sense to other people, but we belong together.”
“Please use your brain,” she groans.
“I can’t. I have to use my heart.”
“You both can live a happy life, Cin, but not together. It’s hard for you to face the truth because you love him.”
“The thought of being without him is unbearable. Losing Art once nearly destroyed me. Losing him again would kill me. We’ll never be perfect, and that’s okay. I just want him.”
“Leave him. We’ll get through the aftermath together,” she pleads.
“Anneli, you’re more than a friend to me. I consider you my sister. But I won’t budge on this.” She opens her mouth to speak, but I hold up my hand. “Hear me out. I love you, and I’ll be forever grateful for your unwavering support throughout the years.”
I abandon my task and fully face Anneli. It’s important she understands how serious I am and sees the determination in my eyes. I want her to accept that my mind will not be changed by her or anyone else.
“I’m riding with Art until the fucking wheels fall off. Even if we crash and burn, I’m still not getting out. Please don’t let my decision come between us.”
