MAY PRESENT DAY
Nik barrels through the front door and throws herself on the couch, half on top of me.
“Are you okay? I will kill him if you’re not.”
“I’m fine. God, get off me, you psycho,” I say, pushing her off my lap.
“I cannot believe he did that. What the hell is wrong with him?” She swipes a handful of the popcorn that’s still sitting on the table.
I wasn’t lying. I am fine. But I have been staring at the wall since he left an hour ago.
“I don’t know. I think there’s a lot wrong with that man. I still don’t know what he wanted.”
She rolls her eyes, throwing a piece of popcorn at my chest. “Is that what you were wearing?”
“What?” I laugh.
“I can tell you exactly what he wanted if so.”
“Oh my god. Shut up,” I squeal, plucking the popcorn from my cleavage before tossing it in my mouth. “I’m exhausted. I’ve accomplished absolutely nothing today.”
“You just got here. Plus, I’m off tomorrow. I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
“Thank you.” I lay back on the couch and throw my legs over her.
“So, what’s the deal withCaseyanyway? I thought he was perfect.” I don’t miss the way she says his name.
She was pretty skeptical of him from the beginning. It’s weird. Nik has this sixth sense for reading people; she can see straight through their bullshit.
He started his own record label, when he was nineteen, and it took off immediately. After deciding to skip college, I was in need of a job, and it seemed like a sign when an opening popped up at one of his offices. He shouldn’t have even been there the day of my interview—it was scheduled with the office manager—but he was.
He walked in that day in an expensive navy-blue suit and short dark hair swept back, not a piece out of place. His caramel eyes met mine, and I was totally done for. We were married within a year.
I shrug, picking at a string on my pajamas. “He fell in love with someone else.”
“What a fucker.”
“I know. I think I attract assholes.”
“Oh, babe, you definitely attract assholes.”
Laughing, I cover my face with my hands. “I feel so stupid. How many times do I have to let a man run me over before I learn? I should’ve known he was gonna do this.” I shake my head. “I should’ve known, Gabe?—”
“Look, I don’t know about Casey, but I was here for the Gabe shit, and I’m telling you right now, no one knew. I still don’t understand what happened, but it wasn’t your fault, and you can’t keep beating yourself up for it.”
“I know. I just feel like I keep letting myself be blinded by the wrong men.”
“Well, that might be true, but at least you keep getting back up. You may have the worst luck at picking men, but you are the toughest bitch I know.”
I pin her with a look. “I have a severely tear-stained pillow that would disagree with you there, but thanks.” I give her a half-hearted smile, my mind drifting to the gnawing in my chest. “I miss her.”
“Gran?”
“Yeah. Being in this house...” I shake my head. “It’s hard. I keep expecting her to waltz in and tell me everything will be fine or turn on Bob Dylan and make me dance until I stop crying.”
“Well, I won’t make you dance, but you are gonna be okay.” She squeezes my arm. “She’d be so proud of you.”
“I’m just ready to get this house dealt with and start over.”
