Page 113 of For the Love of Art

“Don found someone younger and able to give him what he wanted. Now that Nathan knows he likes relationships, he’ll do the same.”

“Don is an asshole,” Frankie said. “He looked across the street and thought the grass was greener, but we both know that’s bullshit because it never is.”

“It’s more like he had a broken car and looked across the street and saw one that could perform better,” I corrected his statement.

“Just because something doesn’t perform exactly how you want it to doesn’t mean you should throw it away.” Frankie shrugged. “All relationships are hard. All relationships have moments where it feels easier to walk away than stay and work on it. Sure, you can find a new one, but there will still be problems.”

“Don seems perfectly happy in his new life. So much so, he desperately wants me to sign the divorce papers so he can marry Marissa.” I shook my head. “I still haven’t signed those. It’s like admitting I fucked everything up.”

“You didn’t.” Frankie squeezed my hands tighter. “Isla. What you went through sounds horrifically painful. I wish you had told me sooner so I could’ve supported you through it. I’m sure Lianne feels the same.”

“Speaking of Lianne, I know why Andrew didn’t show up,” I said.

Frankie tilted his head. “Why?”

I wet my lips. “He’s seeing Dori, the art dealer at the gallery.”

Frankie’s brows came together, and I could hear the anger in his voice when he said, “That fucker is seeing someone else while still talking to Lianne?”

I nodded. “I guess so. He’s either stringing her along in case things don’t work out with Dori, or he’s too chicken shit to say he’s not interested in her. Either way, we hate him.”

“Agreed.”

I sighed. “I just haven’t been sure how to tell her. Every time she brings him up, she gets this dreamy, far-off look in her eyes, and she’s never been this way about a man.”

Frankie nodded in agreement.

“I’m a monster. I can’t stop hiding things.”

“You’re not a monster,” Frankie said. “You just need help with communication. Look, maybe it’s not my place, but I think if you want to escape the patterns of the past, you need to tell Nathan that you don’t want to do the pregnancy thing. Also, sign those damn divorce papers.”

I sighed. “I know.”

“Nathan isn’t Don. You have a chance to start fresh and do things differently. The hardest things are often the most rewarding.”

I smiled at Frankie. “Thank you for listening.”

Frankie smiled back. “I’m always here for you.” He took a breath. “When are you going to tell Lianne?”

I trilled my lips. “I don’t know. Give me some time. I’ll figure it out.”

Frankie nodded, and then we stood up.

“I should get to the gallery.” I hugged my friend. “I love you, Frankie.”

“I love you, too, Boo.”

I spent the majority of my day avoiding Nathan. I kept myself looking busy even in slow moments, so by the time Dori was locking the door, I was so exhausted all I could think about was crawling into my bed with Hamburger and the latest copy of New York Art Life.

“Okay, before you go, can you pull the painting that was purchased last week off the wall?” I asked. “Leave a note for yourself to call them for pick up.”

Dori nodded. “You got it.”

She turned to do what I requested, and I found myself asking, “Is Andrew picking you up tonight?”

Dori turned around, her cheeks flushing. “He’s going to meet me at his place. I’m in no rush.”

“I never did ask what you got up to over the long weekend.”