“Stop what?” I smiled and feigned ignorance. Kari’s question was utterly rhetorical—we both knew exactly what she was talking about.
I sighed, gazing at the bougainvillea growing outside the window. Its purple flowers were a bit of happiness in an otherwise drab desert landscape.
That’s what I need—a pop of color in my life.
“We need to get you out of this funk, do something to shake you up.” Kari bit her lip before her green eyes lit up. “Maybe we need to go to Vegas again.”
“Now that was a good time. Do you remember when Lara tried to climb into the fountain at the hotel? And the hot security guard had to restrain her?”
“Well, I volunteered for him to restrain me. I would have taken that one for the team.”
“You know, I’m pretty sure he may have taken you up on the offer had you not vomited into the bushes right after propositioning him.You completely ruined the moment,” I recalled, throwing us into giggles.
I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand. It had been a long time since I had felt comfortable enough to let my guard slip. Decker had kept me on alert. I was always waiting for the next argument, the next battle. I had almost given up hope of a happily ever after.
Sitting with Kari, laughing at memories I hadn’t thought about in years, made me feel like I could breathe again. I felt lighter, less suffocated. Hope for a better future started to seep slowly through the crevices, exciting me but scaring me simultaneously.
“See? There’s the sister I used to know.” Kari tossed a turquoise towel at me.
“I’m trying to get there. It still hurts.”
“It only hurts because you lost a fantasy. Let’s be real for two seconds. He was never the man you thought he was.”
Her words, full of truth, pierced my heart. I braced myself for the onslaught I knew was coming. “Obviously, I know that now. But he was my husband and—”
“And if you had listened to me,” Kari began, narrowing her eyes, “I would have saved you from that mistake. I told you. Dad told you. The signs were all there.”
If she only knew half of what I went through, she would be lighting me up.
“I know. But don’t go there again. Not now, please.” I closed my eyes, trying to control my emotions. “I thought I would be married once, you know? I did everything to make it work, and look at me now. Do you think this is where I want to be?” I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table. “I have nothing, Kari. I’m a lonely, unemployed homeless girl living with her sister. It’s pathetic. I’m well aware. There’s no need to rehash it.”
Kari rolled her eyes. “Could you be a little more dramatic? The lonely thing is a temporary setback, as you just need to meet the right guy. You will be officially employed as soon as you get your ass to the office, so stop the whining about that. But mi casa es su casa for as long as you need.”
“I know it’s time to move on,” I sighed, feeling my shoulders dip. I wanted to move forward with the new phase of my life, but it was nerve-wracking. I took a deep breath, remembering my mantra.Fake it ’til you make it.“I’m going to start work tomorrow. There’s no need to wait until Monday to go in. I’ll give Dad a call and let him know I’ll be there bright and early.”
“Maybe some hottie will walk in the door and sweep you off your feet.”
“Yeah, that’s so likely.”
“Don’t rule things out. I meet guys in the strangest places. Remember the guy from Texas I met buying a gas can? Stranger things have happened.”
“Only you would meet a guy like that.” I laughed. “But in all honesty, I get nervous just thinking about meeting someone. I don’t want to be alone forever, but I’m going to be picky this time—like crazy picky. I want to find someone who wants me and only me. I want to be someone’s priority.”
“It will happen.” Kari nodded enthusiastically, the optimist in her blazing to the surface. “Everyone has a Prince Charming out there. I just hope yours has a sexy brother.”
I grinned. “Exactly. I need to go for the Prince Charmings of the world. No more bad boys for me.”
“But they’re so fun.” Kari laughed before catching herself and pointing a manicured finger at me. “No, I get it. You’re right. Some people, namely you, aren’t capable of just having sex. You have to fall in love, so it would behoove you to play things carefully.”
“Behoove me?”
“Hush.”
The sound of the doorbell rang loudly through the house. Kari jumped in her chair, her eyes widening for a split second.
My eyebrows furrowed as I cast a curious look in her direction. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No, not really.” Kari stood and cleared her throat. “It’s probably just Max.”
