“Mama Alma gave me the keys because I needed an escape,” he explained, pulling more items from the refrigerator and smiling widely.
“Same. When did you get in? Just now?”
“Nah. Yesterday evening. I would’ve come sooner, as soon as Alma reminded me of this place, but I wanted to spend an entire day with Wryn and Paloma. I was out picking up a few last-minute things when you arrived. I guess that explains why I didn’t know you were here. When I saw the back door unlocked,I assumed the housekeeping services had been by and forgotten to lock it.”
“My mama sent me here. I was waiting with the hopes that the place would be cleaned by the time I came. Your things must be in you guy’s old room. I noticed all the doors were closed when I arrived. I never bothered looking in any of them.”
“Yeah, they are. I closed the door when I left.”
“They always taught us to do that. I guess old habits die hard,” I declared.
“They do. This is about to be a vacation worth taking. We’ve got so much to catch up on.”
“Yes, we do, and I can’t wait. I believe that seeing you is exactly what I need, Reigh-Reigh.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m making steaks and baked potatoes. You want some?”
“Sure, I would love it,” I replied. “Let me clean up, and I’ll come back and help.”
NEXT DAY
We were sittingon the rise in the hill that we used to sit on when we were teens. Itoverlooked the beach and allowed us to watch the tides roll in. I took a swig from my beer, and Dove poured herself another generous glass of wine.
We had talked late into the night and fell asleep around three in the morning. We woke up to fix brunch together, and we had been inseparable since. The only thing we had done was reminisce about our childhood and teen years and caught each other up on the college years.
“I’m sorry about all that you’re going through. The truth will come to light soon, Reigh. You’re an amazing person witha beautiful spirit,” she stated after I summarized all that I was going through, at least the parts that the media had shared.
Dove had been my closest friend growing up, but time had passed, and I wasn’t sure who I could trust anymore.
“Thanks, li’l bit. You said you came here for an escape. Why?” I asked bluntly because that was who she was. Dove had never been a beat around the bush type of girl. If she wanted to know something, she asked, and she expected you to do the same.
“Life is just too much at the moment. My ex decided to pop back up into my life, and along with that came all the horrible memories, the curiosity seekers, and the ragtag media who like to follow people around, snoop in their business, and post pictures and lies on the gossip vlogs. I, unfortunately, had the misfortune of being the dumb bitch who chose to have an affair with a married man and turn my head the other way. It all caught up with me. He is a well-known reporter for a famous and reputable media outlet, and it was plastered everywhere. Now he’s back wanting a do-over of that horrible fiasco.”
“I thought that was old stuff.”
“So, you saw it on social media?”
I bobbed my head. “Yeah.”
“It was old. Unfortunately, the first anniversary of that incident came around, and I guess he got sentimental and decided to pop back up. It was bad enough that I was seeing the memes again, but his return to my life, followed by photographers who took pictures and sent them across social media, have started all that mess up again.
“People love bringing up old skeletons, so these new photos are right up their alley. I can’t blame anyone except for myself, though, because I was wrong to become involved with him in the first place. I never knew about her until one weekend when I caught him on the phone with her. He lied and said they were separated and going through a divorce. I was upset, but I trustedhim and stayed with him. If I truly wanted to be with him, I should have waited until his divorce was final.”
“Was he ever getting a divorce though?”
“You know, at the time, I believed every word he said to me, but after everything that happened and how he failed to stand by my side, I doubt it now.”
“Look at it like this. You’re much wiser because of your experience. You’ve lived, loved, and learned. Now all you gotta do is wear the T-shirt.”
I winked at her, and she smiled back. I looped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her closer to me, and she smiled up at me. She felt so good against my body, and though I shouldn’t have been thinking about it, I couldn’t help it. I never could.
“I missed you, Reigh. You were one of the few people I could ever truly talk to.”
“I feel the same way. Maybe if we hadn’t lost contact through our college years, we wouldn’t have gone through all we’ve gone through.”
“Then we wouldn’t be able to wear the T-shirts,” she teased, smiling at me.
I chuckled, bobbed my head, and agreed. “You’re right.”
