AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fine?
I was expecting a fight, but I guess once I waved money in front of her face—nothing else mattered. I turned around and tried to ignore the screaming voice in my head, calling me an idiot for spending the majority of my nest egg. What would happen when another disaster hit and the soup kitchen ran out of funds?
As I got in my car, I turned the volume way up in the hopes it would drown out the voice in my head.
* * *
At the end of another workday, the BART ground to a halt at my stop and I stood, following the rush of passengers into the frigid air. I walked down the steps and thought back to the time when I hurried up these steps in a borrowed dress to meet Luke in the city.
I had a job. Health insurance.All was well, except that I still pined for Luke.
“There are plenty of other guys out there,” Natalie repeated over and over. “Tons.”
Except there was only one man I was interested in. He saved me—he changed my life. I was almost sorry to see the paparazzi dwindle from my lawn. It was a testament to time. The scandal of our brief relationship was ebbing away. No one cared anymore. I wondered if Luke thought of me as often as I thought of him. Was his father still alive? Was he catering to his every demand?
Once or twice, I wanted to callhim, but I didn’t want to be that girl. I would not be pathetic—I would not chase after a man. I made a choice, and I needed to stick to it.
Wherever he is, I hope he's happy.
My gloominess hung around me like a cloud as I shoved through the front door. Easter was next week and Natalie was going home to her parents. She and Ben were taking a break.
“Natalie,” I called out as I opened my apartment door and shut it behind me. “I hope to God we have booze, because I’m feeling the need to do some drinking.”
“In here.”
Her voice sounded strange. Did Ben call? I hung up my scarf and coat rather quickly. I walked into the kitchen and halted.
He was there, sitting around our crappy kitchen table. His back faced me,but I recognized his dark brown head. He wore a black cashmere sweater and ironed dark jeans. His head turned and those lips I had fantasized about every day, spoke.
“Jessica.”
Behind him, Natalie stoodand retreated to her bedroom. I was still too stunned to register he washere, in my apartment.
“What are you doing here?”
I thought of running into his arms while sobbing, but that wasn’t my instinct. I was numb.
He rose from the chairbut didn’t come any closer.
“These past few months have been the worst in my life. I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said—”
“I’m—I’m so sorry.”
He pushed himself off the table and walked to me, and my heart sped as he came closer.
“I heard what you did with my money."
"How?"
"I was thinking about you one night and I looked up your kitchen’s website. ThenI saw your name on the front page, and I knew what you had done.”
He touched my face and a torrent of emotion boiled up, like the burst of liquid from a shaken soda can.
“Then I got a call from Natalie.”
“Y—you did?”
“She told me everything.”
