There was another long pause. I held my breath, anticipating what I feared she would say next.
“I knew about them. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, but it wasn’t my place.”
“You knew?”
“Yes,” she sniffled. “I feel terrible. I know this isn’t fair to you. I’ve always begged them to tell you, even right after Cabo. I even threatened to tell you myself once.”
The blood drained from my face.
“You’ve known since Cabo?”
“Yes, and I’m so sor—”
“Screw you,” I snapped before pounding the red ‘end’ button.
I got up and paced the small room. Was I the biggest idiot on the planet? All my friends were in on this huge secret that affected my entire life, and no one even bothered to give me a hint.
Lauren and Will’s engagement dinner flashed through my mind.
What had Lauren said? ‘You don’t sense anything off’ or something like that. I hadn’t known what she was referring to at the time, but looking back, it must have been regarding Garrett and Nadine.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” I groaned. Literally, everyone knew.
Now I didn’t just have a relationship to mourn. All of my friendships had also gone up in flames.
ChapterSeven
The sun peakedover the horizon as I dumped my work bag onto my desk. My eyes were puffy, and my head felt groggy. I hadn’t been sleeping well since the incident, and I figured what better way to spend my morning than getting to work before everyone else. Today when I arrived, the front door was still locked. The maintenance staff had to let me in.
I had spent the weekend buying every organizational tool I could think of and transformed the guest bedroom into a color-coded compulsive dreamland. After that, I found some new recipes online and meal prepped for the week ahead. When I finished cooking, I realized my parent's back patio could use a freshening, so I spent hours deep cleaning it.
My mom had begged me to sit on the couch, watch a sad movie, and relax. But ceasing to be productive sounded like defeat to me. Garrett and Nadine had already taken so much from me. I would be damned if I let them take my positive attitude too.
I stared out the window at the view I had always adored. Something about it felt off now. I looked around my office. All of this felt off.
Shaking my head, I tried to rid my brain of the intrusive thoughts. I opened my laptop and got to work screening resumes for the new PM hire we desperately needed in Key Ridge, Colorado.
* * *
“Morning,sunshine. What are you doing here so early.” Sharon poked her head into my office with a bright smile.
“Just trying to catch up on some work.”
“Oh, right. Mike said you were sick on Friday.” She plopped down in the seat across from my desk. “I thought it was weird when you never came back to work after you went home to get a new dress. I just figured you might be playing hooky to celebrate an engagement. I can’t believe you never texted me to tell me what happened. So, spill. Did Garrett finally grow a pair and propose?”
“Not exactly.” Shit. I should have texted her a brief summary to avoid the awkwardness of telling her the news in person.
“Not exactly? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I caught him cheating on me, and we broke up,” I said.
She choked on the sip of coffee she had just taken. “What?” she exclaimed.
I nodded and recounted the tale in as little detail as I could manage.
“Now I’m staying at my parent’s house while the new lovebirds enjoy their honeymoon phase.”
“That’s insane, Mattie. How are you at work right now? How are you evenfunctioningright now?”
