“It feels like it’s been forever. What is with us all having opposite flight schedules lately?” Piper complains, sipping her water.
“I don’t know, but it’s nice that we’re all together tonight,” Lina says.
Avery turns to me. “How’s our little Luca?”
I smile, ready to gush about my adorable child. “He’s good. He just started playing soccer a few weeks ago and loves it.”
“Aww, we need to go see one of his games,” Piper says, glancing at Lina and Avery.
“I already have.” Avery boasts.
I laugh. “He’d love seeing you all there. His games are every Saturday. Just let me know. Now let’s have some drinks!”
After we order drinks and appetizers, I head inside to use the restroom.
Washing my hands at the sink, I glance up into the mirror. Then pull out light pink lip gloss from my purse and apply it to my lips. One of the other stall doors swings open, followed by the clicking sounds of heels on the checkered tile floor. Walking up directly to my left, I see an utterly unpleasant but very familiar woman. She’s wearing dark blue jeans and a low-cut sequined black top. Her blonde hair is pulled up into a high, fluffy ponytail. She towers over me with her long legs and stilettos.
My eyes grow wide as I watch her lean down to wash her hands. She notices me right away, lowering hers to my level.
“Bailey, right?” she asks.
I stare at the tall blonde through the mirror. “Yes. And it’s Claire, correct? We met at the Burbank airport a few months ago.”
She struts over to the paper towel machine, gracefully pulling individual pieces out to dry off her hands. “You’re Mason’s new fuck buddy, aren’t you?” she says, tucking a loose, shiny curl behind her ear.
Wow, alright. I was not prepared for that to come flying out of her mouth.Newfuck buddy? How many has he had? My defenses immediately go into overdrive.
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean?” I quip, pursing my lips together and resting one hand on the counter behind me.
“Well, I thought he had someone new when he stopped calling me. It didn’t take me long to figure out it was you. I saw the look on his face when he was texting you when I was in town doing the walkthrough for his new house.” She folds both arms at her chest, pushing her boobs together so they pop out of her low-cut top—which happens to showcase how large they are. I can’t help but stare, thinking about Mason’s hands and lips all over them.The thought makes my stomach turn, causing bile to rise in my throat.
And when was she last here with him?
I get a sick feeling when I remember that I actually haven’t heard from Mason in six days. My mind bounces all over the place, wondering if he’s been with her this whole time. It had surprised me that I hadn’t even run into him in our condo building. Maybe they stayed somewhere together?I feel my ears get hot with panic, but I keep these questions to myself, as I would never dare to ask her about it.
This conversation is making me feel very uncomfortable. I finish applying my lip gloss, then toss it into my small clutch. I turn toward her and plaster a fake smile on my face. “Okay, well, I’m not having this conversation with you in the bathroom of a restaurant. So, you have a wonderful night.” I give her my back, reaching for the door handle.
“Mason won’t commit,” she blurts out matter-of-factly. “No matter what you think or how you might believe you’re different from any of the other women he’s been with, he will use you to hook up with and when he gets bored, he’ll move on to the next woman who captures his attention.”
I force out an exasperated breath and slowly turn around. “Claire, I’ve only met you twice. And I don’t know what you think youknowabout Mason and me, but whether there is something or not, it is none of your damn business,” I snap. Even though I don’t let on that I will heed her warning, I do and take note of her words.
“Oh, sweetie. You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?” Her eyes turn small as she smugly squints. “He is incredible, but deep down under all that sexiness and confidence is a boy who is crawling with women issues. Listen, I have been his ‘special friend’ for almost two years.” Claire reaches out and pats me on the shoulder. I instantly jerk away. Her expression hardens.“Others have come and gone in that time frame, and he always comes back to me. Take this as a warning, my little vanilla friend. He won’t choose you.” She cautions.
A flood of emotions rages through me as I stand here with a woman clearly hurt by a man. But also, a woman that this man has led on for some time.
My back instantly straightens, an animalistic need to present myself as bigger—strongertakes over. “What do you mean,vanilla?” I ask, repeating her words back to her.
“Mason likes things a little spicy, if you know what I mean. You’ve got to have enough flavor to keep up with him”—she quickly runs her beady eyes along the length of me—“vanilla is just not going to work for him.” She reaches her arm out in front of me and grips the metal handle of the door. I’m met with a strong scent of expensive perfume. I draw my head back, turning my nose up at it. The door slams before I can respond to her comment.
I find my way back to the outside patio, flustered, annoyed, and slightly intimidated. Piper, Avery, and Lina are laughing amongst themselves when I pull my chair out and slump into it. The heat lamps that scatter the outside dining area typically feel cozy, but after my conversation with Claire, I’m already hot the moment I sit down. They burn into my back, forcing me to remove my denim jacket.
All three of them immediately turn in my direction.
“You were gone awhile. Is everything okay?” Lina asks sympathetically.
I rub my forehead, squeezing my eyes closed. “I ran into Mason’s girlfriend or ex-girlfriend, Claire—orfuck buddyin the bathroom.”
Lina’s eyebrows snap together. “He has a girlfriend?”
