My truck purred when I turned the key, and the corner of my mouth kicked up. Fuck, yeah, I was cruising Sierra Rose Ridge in Old Blue, on my way to get a pie from the diner, and I had plans for a home-cooked dinner. Life was pretty good.
Chapter 5
DANI
I was worn the fuck out by the time I pulled into my parents’ driveway after my shift at the Tavern. My face hurt from fake smiles, but our patrons didn’t deserve a shitty mood from me when they had their own lives to muddle through. The back of my head thumped against the headrest, and I fortified myself for the conversation ahead with my parents.
After Beau left for work, I slept fitfully for a few hours before I gave up. Vanessa called while I poured my third cup of coffee. She saw my messages and skimmed the emails, and we cried together.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner,” I sobbed.
“No, I’m sorry I was right about him,” shecried.
It was cathartic, but it didn’t solve anything. Obviously, my plan to stay on as Beau’s roommate was out. Today, though, I had a client meeting to prepare for, a project update to give, and another bartending shift to survive.
After calling rental properties once Vanessa left for work, I faced the facts. I couldn’t swing rent on my own. Unfortunately, there were no lofts, one-bedroom apartments, or single rooms in my budget, even if I discounted security deposit and all the up-front rent I’d need.
I messaged my parents to give them a head’s up, but I wasn’t ready to bare all.
Me: Miss Priss and I will join you for a few days. I’ve got to work tonight, but I’ll drop her off before I go in.
My stay would be longer if nothing else came up soon, but I didn’t want to shock my parents by showing up with my cat and a suitcase. Today was not the day to walk in on them getting frisky on the couch.
Then I put my drama aside for a few hours and focused on my graphic design clients. It was a relief to remind myself I was capable and competent.
By the time Beau was expected home, I’d already left but only took the necessities. I wasn’t ready for him to know I was moving out. Not when my name was still on all the bills. I was pretty sure I needed a lawyer for that conversation.
Before I went to work, I dropped Miss Priss off at my parents’ house, where they cooed over her. They were always delighted to host their cat granddaughter.
“Who’s the cutest kitty in the world? You are, Miss Priss, you are. Come sit with Grandpa, and tell me all about your day.”
Miss Priss purred with contentment as my dad settled her on his lap. He was the only exception to the rule as far as Miss Priss and men were concerned. Right now, I echoed her sentiment.
“We’re so glad you’ll be staying for a few days,” my mom said. “I changed the sheets on your bed, and I’ll get some of those diet sodas you like when I’m at the store today.”
They knew from my demeanor something happened, but they didn’t push. For some reason, that made me want to cry. I’d also never been so grateful to have spare clothing at my parent’s place. If my dad had a rough night, I came over to help him with extra physical therapy and stayed overnight to make things easier.
Later, I texted Beau to say my dad had a fall and needed my help, and I’d be staying there for a few days. He replied with a thumb’s up without asking if my dad was okay. That made me almost as angry as his betrayals and theft.
I bought myself a few days to come up with a plan to limit the fallout from Beau’s financial malfeasance. Numb, I made it through my shift somehow.
While I was a non-confrontational person, I had no choice. Not only had Beau stolen from me, I wasn’t on the lease, so I had no rental history if I found a place in my budget.
All the money I gave him for rent, for utilities, for the tiniest corner of his house, was all based on deceptions. The more I worked, the more he needed.
And the pièce de résistance? He was cheating on me. All those times he accused me, and he was the cheater. Not only did he have a girlfriend in town, he spent hundreds of dollars a month on e-girls. He was paying multiple women for virtual sex.
I had photos of everything on my phone. His phone was logged in to both his chat and his email, so I got everything without leaving a trail. The receipts. The bills. The emails where he switched the utilities over to my name but kept us both on the billing address.
He thought so little of me, he barely tried to to hide his perfidy, which was almost as painful as the lies.
My parents gave me space earlier, but now that I was off work, it was time to come clean. Hiding in my car in the dark wasn’t going to fix things.
With one last deep breath, I climbed out, feeling older than thirty-three. I plodded to the front door, which swung open as soon as I came near. Without a word, my mom swept me into her arms and ushered me inside.
“Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out,” she said.
She led me to the couch by my dad’s chair and sat next to me.
