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“You did a session today?”
“Yes. The client is still here actually, so can we make this quick?” Marley’s voice grows more and more irritated. “Why are you really here, Beau?”
The room falls silent. “You’ve been ignoring me,” Beau finally says.
Marley scoffs. “I haven’t been ignoring you. I’m busy.”
“You sure? Because the minute you found out I was dating someone, you shut me out. Why is that, Marley? You’re my best friend. I don’t want to live without you. We’re in our thirties, it’s normal to date.”
Marley doesn’t say a word. I can feel the tension radiating between them through the dressing room curtain. “I don’t want guys to see you wearing that,” Beau mutters.
An irritated laugh comes from Marley. “Oh that’s real fucking rich, Beau. Why, might I ask, don’t you want guys to see me wearing lingerie? I’m going to go out on a limb and say it's not because you think I don’t look good in it.”
Beau starts to speak, but Marley interrupts him. “No. Just… go. I don’t want to do this with you. You have a girlfriend, and I’m just your best friend. The one there to hold you while you cry, the one to make sure you’re okay after she inevitably breaks up with you.”
There’s another long silence. “I’m sorry,” Beau quietly says. “I’ll go.”
Marley doesn’t say anything.
His footsteps are heavy as he walks to the door. “I’ll talk to you later, Mar. I hope you’ll forgive me for being an ass.”
“We’ll see.” Marley’s voice is fed up.
When the door opens and closes, I finish dressing, then give Marley a minute to herself. Opening the curtain, I find her in the same spot I left her, only this time, her head is resting in her open palms.
“Hey, sweetie,” I say, sitting down next to her, rubbing her back.
“Guessing you heard that?” she asks.
I wince, then slowly nod.
“Why does he have to be like this?” she asks. “I know, I’m part of the problem too, but it’s getting too hard to fight whatever is between us, and I’m so scared to lose him.”
“I know,” I murmur. “I know you are. You’ll get through this. You love him, and he loves you.”
“He doesn’t love me,” she says.
I pinch her arm. “What the fuck?” she screeches.
“Of course he loves you!” I nearly shout. “He loves you so much, just the way you love him, but like you said, you’re both so scared to lose each other, that you won’t get your heads out of your asses long enough to see it.”
Marley shrugs. “Guess I’m a glutton for pain.”
“Good thing you’ve got a best friend to bring you all the chocolate.”
“I knew I liked you,” Marley says.
“You’re kinda stuck with me,” I say. “Especially since you helped me become the happiest I have ever been.”
I pull her in close, hugging her tightly, giving her the time she needs to get her emotions out.
46
JOSIE
FOUR MONTHS LATER
“Honey, can you come here?” I’m in the back office of my store front, Ivy Ridge Floral. After I put the offer in, things moved pretty quickly. They accepted my offer within an hour, and a closing date was set for a month later. We put my house on the market, and after a few weeks, it sold. Andrew promptly started packing up my stuff the night I accepted the offer, and I’ve been totally moved in for about two months.
