And I started sobbing.It was dark, but we were in public, and I couldn’t stop.He got me into my jacket and put his arm around me, shielding me from people seeing.
“He’s a fucking asshole,” he said.
“He fired you.”
“I’ll get another job.I don’t want to work for someone who’d treat you like that.”
We got an Uber back to the apartment.I’d pulled myself together by then, but I held his hand the whole way home.And when he switched on the lights in the apartment, everything looked normal, and I felt embarrassed.
Maybe he could tell, because he said, “Stay home tomorrow.I’ll take care of you.”
That made me feel weak and pathetic.
I sat on the couch.“I’ve gotta see my therapist.”
He stood in front of me.“I can take you, but you need a break from work.You’re still sick.”He kissed my eyelids.
I didn’t deserve him.“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For standing up for me.For protecting me.For losing your job over me.”
“This was my fault.I talked you into it.I vouched for Jack.I fucked up.”
“Can I get some water?”
He went to the kitchen and brought me a glass.
I drank half of it.“I gotta brush my teeth.My mouth is gross right now.”
I went to the bathroom and washed my face.I was a mess.How could he love me?I’d let him down in the worst way.
I rinsed the stomach acid and puke out of my mouth and brushed my teeth.When I came out of the bathroom, he was sitting on the couch staring at his phone on the coffee table.
“What are you thinking?”I said.
“That I dodged a bullet.Thank god I said no when he asked me out.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Can you eat something?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Stay there.I’ll heat something up.See what’s on TV.”
I putTapon.I always watched that movie when I was feeling down.
After a few minutes, he came out of the kitchen and sat beside me.I put my arm around him.
“Okay?”I said.
He put his hand on my thigh.“Still feeling sick?”
“I didn’t throw up today because I was sick.”
“I know.”
