Zach scowls. “My potential to turn red at any random moment means nothing,” he huffs and then chugs his coffee. “Ask any ginger.”
His defensive tone just makes me laugh more.
Zach continues to scowl, but I can see he’s trying to fight a chagrined smile.
Who would have thought we’d be laughing over coffee just a few months ago? We never did that before Josh left.
This budding friendship is the last thing I expected.
But I’m so grateful for it.
I practically dreaded having to talk to him or spend solo time with him before. And now I can’t imagine getting through the day without either.
Time in his company is something I look forward to now. Something that makes my days a little better.
Maybe he’s making an extra effort to be gentler with me than he was before. I don’t know. I hope I’m making enough effort in return.
He’s taken care of me. Those first few weeks, he was the one steering the ship, that’s for sure.
Things are better. I haven’t dissolved in tears in a while. I’m still talking to Trina, and I’m glad about that too.
I still catch myself wondering what the hell Josh is doing, but I’m not pining for him.
And, yes, I’m still angry with him. For leaving like that. And, of course, for ripping us off.
For humiliating me.
Trina says I have to unlearn the lie Josh’s leaving told me about myself.
On one level, I understand what she means, but on another…
How can it be a lie?
I trusted the wrong person. I believed in something that wasn’t real.
That calls my judgment and self-preservation into question.
Seriously.
Because lots of people trust others they shouldn’t. Lots of women trust men who leave them or cheat or show their true colors after wedding vows have been exchanged.
But how many trust a man who flees the country with their life savings?
Yeah, I’ve seenDateline.I know it happens. But if your relationship fail is on par with the stuff of primetime news, you need to reflect.
“Greta?”
I snap out of my spiral and blink up at him. “Yeah?”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere good,” I admit, wrinkling my nose.
“Well,” he says, his hazel eyes glinting, “come back. Here is better.”
I inhale a deep breath, smiling at him. “You’re right. Hereisbetter.”
Yeah. He’s still taking care of me. Looking out for me. Being a friend.
