“Can you wake the kids, and take themto school tomorrow morning?” I ask. “Make their school lunches, make sure they have a decent breakfast, brush their teeth, and have all their stuff?”
“Uh…” He stammers. “I don’t know, Gabbie...”
“Make sure Emma wears her boots, not her shoes… what?!” I stop abruptly. “Did you just say ‘I don’t know’?”
“You know how I like to sleep late. I can’t write when I’m tired, and I’ll be useless if I don’t get enough sleep.”
My mouth drops to the floor. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“Well, I suppose foronetime…” he says. “Why do you want to hang out at Kayla’s on a Sunday night, anyway?”
“Never you mind,” I say. “God, I never ask for anything…”
“I said yes,” he scoffs. “I gave you permission.”
My mouth, which had settled back in position, drops again. “Oh… you give mepermission,do you? Wow, lucky me. Well, thank you, Master Moore.” I’ve never been so snarky, and it feels so damn good.
I hastily pack an overnight bag, slip on my jacket and boots, and wave a hand on my way out. “See ya.”
I zoom out of our driveway, a heady mix of emotions swirling around in my head. I’m angry. I’m happy. I’m scared. I’m free.
When I arrive at Kayla’s, she’s surprised to see me. It’s ten o’clock on a Sunday night, and I’m wearing sweats, my hair is still wet, and I’m lugging an overnight bag over my shoulder. I probably look like a drowned rat.
Curiosity traces her features. “Come in.”
“I’m leaving John,” I tell her, straight to the point. “It’s over.”
Her eyes grow wide. “No way… what happened?”
I take a seat on the sofa. “Well, aside from his affair?” I say sarcastically. “And the fact that I’m in love with someone else?”
She smirks, and takes a seat next to me.
“I’ve just realized that our marriage was over a long time ago,” I explain. “It’s why we’ve both been unfaithful, why we’ve both fallen for other people.”
She wraps an arm around my shoulder and draws me in closer. She doesn’t offer me tea this time — this is beyond tea.
“This isn’t about Eli,” I tell her. “He was just a victim in all this. I broke his heart.”
“You didn’t mean to,” she says. “I know you… you couldn’t hurt a soul.”
I cry again – I’m a total mess. “I… I’m s-sorry.” My voice cracks. “I can’t stop crying.”
“I know,” she says softly. “Heartbreak hurts.”
I lay my head on her lap, and she strokes my hair without a word. We stay like that for the longest time, until she breaks the silence. “Maybe you and Eli… maybe you two could work.”
I smile. “No.” I sniff. “It would never work. He lives and works in Copenhagen, and I live here with my kids. It was magical and I’ll never forget him, but it wasn’t real, was it? You were right.”
“No,” she argues. “I was wrong. He was real. You two were real.”
“I don’t know about real, but we were definitely good together.”
“Maybe you two could be friends,” she suggests. “You should send him a message.”
“I think he’s blocked me on all his accounts.”
“Really?!”
