“You’ll win and get a pay raise and be able to afford your own apartment, one in a building not owned by Hunter.”
“I want my house back.”
“I know,” Susie said, “but maybe this is good for you. That house had some not-so-good memories. This is a fresh start. You can declutter your life, detox and curate your possessions.”
“Not if I can’t even get access to them.”
“The forms just have to wind their way through the bureaucracy,” Susie reassured me. “At least now that you’re sleeping with Hunter, he can pay for all your meals.”
“Shh, not so loud!”
Susie snorted. “Girl! It is all around town. The bookies won’t let people collect their money, though. They said that you two don’t count as back together until you’re married or moved in together.”
“Move in? Marriage? That sounds serious.”
“I’m sure Hunter would jump at the chance,” Susie said as I balanced the box on my hip while tapping my key card on the apartment building door.
“He seems into you.”
“I’m sure he has an ulterior motive.”
Susie sighed. “You know, sometimes it’s healthier to just let go of your grudges. You’ve been mad at him for years.”
“Not mad,” I protested as we stepped onto the elevator. “I just have a clear-eyed view of the type of man he is.” I stared at my reflection in the elevator doors. “He’s egotistical, manipulative…”
“Hot, rich, infatuated with you…”
“He wants something.”
“Even if he does,” Susie said as we walked down the hall, “it’s not like he can really control you. You’re not some naïve twentysomething. You have a job. Once the paperwork goes through, maybe you’ll have your house back, maybe not. Just let him wine and dine you. Go on some dates with him. You’re always complaining you never go on nice dates.”
“I don’t know if he wants to,” I admitted as I unlocked the door. “We really sort of have just been boinking.”
Susie and I stopped short as I opened the door.
“Holy shit. Forget dating, just go ahead and accept his marriage proposal.”
I looked around. There were scores of huge bouquets of flowers in my apartment. It looked and smelled like a fairy-tale wonderland.
“This is likeA Little Princesslevel of decoration,” Susie said. “You can’t tell me this isn’t impressive.”
It was impressive. And Hunter had pulled this type of thing before and then turned around and screwed me. But maybe Susie was right. I had more control now. I was a boss-ish. Why didn’t I just enjoy myself? If Hunter screwed me over, there was always Walter.
I grabbed one of the bouquets and buried my face in the soft flowers.
“He sent you a card too,” Susie said, plucking it out of one of the other dozens of pink-, white-, and cream-colored bouquets.
“Oh jeez.” She fanned herself.
I snatched it out of her hand.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Show me your tits
And I’ll come in you
