Page 4 of Deceived Wrath

"Fi... When was the last time you didanythingfun?"

"I just told you. I reorganized my closet last night."

Oh, screw the glass.

I hold the bottle up to my lips and chug, wincing at the slightly sour taste.

"Okay, that's it." Zoe sets down her glass on her makeshift coffee table made of just piles of old magazines with a tray resting on top. "You're coming out with me next weekend, no excuses."

"I don't know?—"

"You need to get off this path, Fi. I'm serious."

"What path?"

"The one where you end up middle-aged and alone with twenty cats."

"How can I be alone if I have twenty cats?"

"Be serious."

"I am. And quite frankly, I like the idea of living with a bunch of cats over a man because at least cats can't cheat on you with your sister and rip your heart out in the process."

At the sight of Zoe's shocked face, I grimace.

I should not have said that. "Sorry."

Zoe reaches for my hand. "You don't need to be sorry. You have every right to be angry."

"I didn't think I still was." I set down the wine bottle.

"It's coming up on a year, right?"

I nod as I try to blink back the tears that have decided to make an appearance.

This is exactly why I don't drink wine. It makes me into a pathetic, blubbering mess. At least without the wine, I'm normally just pathetic.

"Have you heard from Joe?"

"Not since the funeral."

"Seriously?"

I fiddle with the hem of my sweatshirt. "He's still pissed at me."

"For what?"

"You know what."

Zoe scoffs. "Oh, comeon.You would think he has bigger things to worry about now that he's raising two young kids on his own."

"Apparently not." I sigh.

"He's acting like his wife cheating on him is your fault."

"If I didn't have a boyfriend, she wouldn't have had someone to cheat on him with."

"Fiona, stop. None of this is your fault. If Joe wants to act like a child, then so be it."