“You know her new secret man? It’sMark. She’s dating your ex-husband.”
Cat’s jaw drops. “Wow. I cannot believe you would say that.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
“No. She would never do that to me.” Cat stares at me for a moment, screwing up her face. “I can’t believe you’re doing this, after all we’ve done for you.”
I jerk back, stunned. She thinks I’m making this up to hurt her? I open my mouth to say something, then close it again as the words die on my tongue. What’s the point? She’ll never believe me over Mel. Mel is too good a liar.
Cat stands, raking her eyes over me with disgust. “I thought we were friends, Alex. But obviously I was wrong.” And with that she stalks up the hallway to her room, slamming the door.
I stare after her, my heart pounding, my breathing shallow. I know she’s just angry, but her words sting all the same. Before I know it, the tears are coming hard and fast, and I bury my head in my hands. It feels like everything is falling apart and I don’t know where to turn. I just want to crawl into bed and sleep for a million years; forget I ever came to this bloody city.
I trudge over to my nook and sink down onto my bed, but now this little space that has brought me so much comfort is just making me sad. I don’t belong here, in this apartment with someone who doesn’t trust me, in this building with the man who hurt me.
I don’t belong here at all.
With trembling hands, I reach under the bed and grab my suitcases, quickly gathering my things. I take my clothes down off the rack and empty the drawers, stuffing the contents haphazardly into my bags. As I pack, I remember the day Cat told me I could live here and feel a fresh spasm of hurt. I can’t believe she thinks I would lie to her, that I would make up something so hurtful. But she’s known Mel for years and I’ve only been here for a few months. Of course she believes Mel over me.
My cheeks are wet as I finish shoving all of my possessions into my suitcases, wishing so badly that things had turned out differently.
Then I take one last look at the apartment I’ve called home since I arrived, and with a heavy heart, head out the door for the one place I have left to go in the city.
* * *
By the timeI’m ringing the buzzer to Geoff’s apartment, it’s nearly midnight. From the street I can see the lights are on, and he lets me in quickly, waiting at the door when I get to his floor. His face falls when he sees my puffy eyes and he ushers me inside without a word, taking my suitcases and guiding me over to his sofa.
“I’m so sorry to show up unannounced. I didn’t know where else to go.”
He pats my arm. “Don’t you worry about that. Of course you’re welcome here.”
I sit stiffly, playing with the hem of my dress, holding my breath. I know if I say anything more, I’ll burst into tears.
“Is this about Michael?” Geoff asks tentatively.
I nod.
“Oh, hon. What happened?”
Ugh, it’s no use. Fresh tears spill onto my cheeks as I tell him about the week away with Michael that wasn’t supposed to happen, about everything between him and I in the cabin. I tell him about Mel and the hospital, getting the job and the argument with Michael. And then I tell him about Cat.
“Wait. So Michael’s ex-wife is Cat’s friend, Mel? What are the odds of that?”
I shrug. “I think Cat knows Mel because she used to live upstairs.”
“Oh. Right.” He’s quiet for a moment, then speaks again. “I have to ask… are you sure you want to end things with him? You two are so good together and I know how much you like him.”
“I don’t have a choice, Geoff. I thought things with him were real, that he understood me and supported me, but… I was wrong. Like I always am. And as for Cat—” I break off and look down at my hands as my throat tightens. Here I was thinking Cat and I were friends, but she won’t believe a word I say. How can you have a friendship with someone who doesn’t trust you?
Geoff puts an arm around my shoulder and gives me a squeeze. “She’ll come around.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“If Meliswith Mark—if the things you said are true—then she has no reason not to. She might just have to learn it the hard way.”
I sag back on the sofa, overwhelmed with exhaustion. Not just from the emotional roller coaster of everything with Michael, or the drama with Mel and my writing, or the argument with Cat; from everything here in New York. It feels too hard, all of a sudden.
“Maybe I should go home,” I mumble.
