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“When we spoke the other day, Petal, you let me know your ex has not been entirely truthful with the timeline he’s presented to us. He still maintains you threw him over for Rake.”
What the fuck.
“I think we already discussed this, Charlotte?—”
She looks around, and someone from offstage comes over with a third chair. With a huge smile, she stands. “I’ve asked Andy Stackhouse to join us today to hash out what really went down.”
Oh God no. This is some sort of trash TV show. I should have known.
Andy comes sauntering out and Charlotte gives him a hug hello. With a shit-eating grin, he looks at the camera and takes a seat next to me. They suit him up with a mic, after which he turns to me.
“Nice to see you, Petal. You look lovely today.”
I just nod, and hope no one notice me gripping the arms of my chair so tightly my fingers are turning blue.
“Now, Petal,” Charlotte says, shuffling her index cards. “Andy claims you left him at the altar.”
Andy says, “She did, Charlotte. It was very painful. Painful for me, my family, and certainly all our friends. But I’m willing to forgive and move on. I’m not a man who holds grudges.”
My turn. “Um, Andy, you know I’m married to someone else now. We talked about that last week in the feminine hygiene aisle of Rite Aid.” I turn to Charlotte. “He followed me there while I was trying to buy tampons. So embarrassing,” I say, rolling my eyes.
This is war.
Andy’s face reddens. “Not true.”
Goddamn, the liar.
“Charlotte, you may not know this, but Andy’s ambition is to be mayor of San Francisco. He’ll do anything for his fifteen minutes of fame. Now, as for the timeline of when I ended things with him and met Rake, I will gladly show you an invitation from my wedding, and the invitation from my mother’s charity event. Or, you can look it all up online. It’s not hard to find, and if you were a decent journalist, you would have already done this. But since you haven’t, I have the receipts and can assure you I met Rake a good couple months after things went to shit with Andy.”
They look at me with wide eyes and I look at the camera to see if the red light’s on. It is, so I continue my tirade.
“Andy, stop trying to rewrite history. You’re just making yourself look pathetic. And Charlotte, why don’t you get a real job, because this thing you’re doing now? You’re no good at it.”
I look back at the camera, and the light goes out.
Guess I’m done here.
51
RAKE
“Hey, baby,”I say the moment she picks up my call.
I steer my car through traffic, eager to get home after a hellacious practice. I know I’m going to be sore tomorrow, in fact, I was already walking stiffly on the way to my car, but the good news is I’ve got my mojo back. Whatever was hanging over my head and messing me up seems to be gone, hopefully permanently. I was lightning-fast today, back to loving the sound of the puck flying during our stickhandling and passing drills. The opposing team at our next game will be eating shit. Can’t wait.
After a day like this, when I’m feeling damn good, the only thing better is heading home to my girl, like I am right now.
This is new for me. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it feels strange sometimes, but I don’t focus on that. What would be the point?
I never knew I wanted this, a woman to come home to. But then I’ve never met anyone like Petal. I’d like to keep her around for as long as she’ll have me.
Which, hopefully, is permanently.
“I’m good,” she says, the sound of her voice revving my engine. “Actually, I’m better than good. Did you hear about my interview yet?”
“I heard from BJ. He was laughing his ass off when he told me how you just obliterated that Charlotte and your ex. He’s sorry he threw you to the wolves, he had no idea things were going to play out that way. At least, that’s what he says. But I know whatever comes your way, you handle like a champ.”
“Thank you. And thank you for having my back.”
