“So he fucked up. It was one day, and you guys have been together forever,” she goes on. “I’m not sure you should just throw that away.”
We all stare at her, jaws hanging.
“He’s not a player, or an alcoholic. He has a good job. He has money, and he can be a good provider. He’s the kind of guy who’d probably be a good dad too. You could do worse.”
Honestly, we’re not completely shocked by Corrie’s words. She’s always prioritized money; a nice home, car, designer clothes. To her, Peter is probably a catch.
“But is that what she wants right now?” Gabbie chimes in, playing the devil’s advocate. “A house and fancy stuff?”
“Well, she’s made him suffer, made him pay for his mistake, and got to have a little fun with the high school hottie,” Corrie argues. “Now she can settle down and get what she’s always wanted. She can get back to her life.”
Corrie knows me well. She knows that all I’ve ever wanted was a house, a faithful husband and cute kids. It seems simple, but I’ve never been a very complicated girl. I’m pretty easy to please.
“I don’t know,” Kayla says. “I’m on the fence. Does Peter love her enough? I mean, the man ran away on their wedding day… that’s pretty telling. Is he ready for commitment? If he’s not, he’ll be miserable, and so will she.”
“Love…” Corrie sighs. “I think you’ve read too many romance novels, Kayla. Love is overrated.”
I feel bad for Corrie. She’s so jaded and lost. First there was her separation, and then Jacob’s accident. Her life has become so complicated. These past months, she’s done nothing but try to find herself and figure out her life. All she wants is a simple life. And she probably sees that opportunity for me and wants me to jump at it.
“Love is the most amazing thing in life,” Gabbie says. She’s been quiet, but she lights up when she says, “It’d be a shame to let it pass by.”
I’m not exactly sure what she’s getting at.
“This Blake… was it really just a fling?” she asks. “Or something more?”
“Oh, come on. She can’t trash a long-term relationship for some player who likes to fuck woman over freezers and against doors,” Corrie scoffs. “No matter how fucking hot he is.”
Her words sting, and that surprises me. I want to tell her that Blake is much more than that.
“Well, if he’s the one who owns her heart, she should,” Gabbie says. “After all, I left a marriage for love, and there were two children involved. And I’ve never regretted it, not for a single second. I’m going through a divorce right now, and she’s not even married, no kids.”
“Well, Eli is one of a kind,” Corrie argues. “And John cheated on you.”
“Yes, but maybe John and I shouldn’t have been married in the first place,” Gabbie argues.
“But then you wouldn’t have Emma and Theo,” Corrie points out.
To this, Gabriella has no retort.
“You can’t expect her to change her whole life and move back to her hometown?” Corrie goes on, determined to not let this go.
“Why not?” she says. “Eli changed his whole life for me,” she points out. “Moved across an ocean.”
Corrie throws her head back, and her eyes roll to the ceiling. “Yes, yes. We’ve heard it a thousand times. The whole romantic ‘he moved across an ocean to be with me,’ and he’s so damn hot and amazing in bed, and he can cook too—”
“Enough,” Kayla scolds. “Enough quibbling, ladies.”
Kayla, always the voice of reason. I really want to hear what she has to say.
“What do you think, Kayla?”
She ponders me for a second before speaking. “Well, I agree with Gabbie,” she says. “Whoever loves you the most deserves you. Does Peter really love you enough to commit? Was it just a hook-up with Blake, or does he have deeper feelings?” She traces a finger around the rim of her cup of tea. “I also agree with Corrie. What life do you want? Do you want to have a career, live in a condo, and be here with us in the city? Or do you want to live the small town life, and be with your family?”
I don’t know. I just don’t know. I wish I knew.
