“Tori, don’t make this worse.” Polly stepped in between Jana and Tori.
“Worse? Like it’s my fault that the bastard has kept who knows how many side chicks around—”
“Who says I’m the side chick,” Jana said. “Maybe it’s you!” Her words came out desperate and weak.
Tori lunged forward, ready to smack this girl. “You want the bastard. You can have him! I wasted three years on his ass. He isn’t worth it. I can’t do this shit anymore.”
She couldn’t. She wouldn’t do this again. Not for him. Not for anyone.
Tori was done.
Over it.
“You knew?” Jana asked, her voice softening. “Which one of us is more pathetic then? At least I didn’t know. You knew, and you put up with it!”
The words were like a branding iron, burning Tori raw. Because angry as she was, the woman was right.
She’d tolerated his ways for far too long. She opened her mouth to say something but Polly raised her hands, holding them both back.
“Stop it,” Polly said. “I called the two of you here to work this out. He’s a dick who doesn’t deserve either of you.”
“Jana, go over there,” Polly said, pointing toward the metal sculptured arches. “Give me just a minute,” and she turned to Tori. “You, come here.”
Jana huffed off and walked over to the metal sculpture art a few feet away. Arches of all shapes and sizes, a new exhibit at the park that was supposed to imitate the journey to success or some such thing she'd read online. Just looked like bent metal pieces stuck to the ground.
Jana started walking through the arches, slapping them as she did, her ring clanging against the metal.
Tori watched her do it.
Each clang felt like a slap.
He did it again.
Clang.
And again.
Clang.
"What is your deal," Polly yelled. "Antagonizing her is not going to make this better!"
"Nothing is going to make this better, except cutting off your shitty cousin."
About that time, Tori felt her backpack buzz from her phone.
Text probably.
No, another buzz.
That's a ring.
Speak of the devil.
"That's why I had to do this. You both are great. You know that. I know you don't know Jana, but she's a good person. I like her. I think you'd like her too if you gave her a chance."
"Look, we don't have to be friends because we were wronged by the same guy, Polly."
"I know. I was just saying. I don't want you making this worse for her. This really is out of the blue for her."
