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“A desperate woman is not a sexy one.” I told her. “I thought we could leave things civil, but it appears not. Goodbye, Gabby.”
I walked away leaving her behind me and I wiped at my mouth. The taste of her lipstick adding to the bitter taste she’d left on my tongue.
14
Smith
The previous night was a blur. I’d woken in my bed fully dressed. My mother still wasn’t answering her cell. She was always off somewhere. The woman wasn’t really a mother at all. She never had been. But that made it easier to admit my failings to her. There was no disappointment. She did detached better than a high end Realtor. I wasn’t ready to confront my father yet.
I headed for The Dream, where I avoided the bar though it called to me like a mother of a child running toward water. I had to not drown, so I spent hours in the gym and booked treatments in the spa and then when I was all out of ideas, I called Leonie to find she was off that day. She agreed to join me for lunch and I took her to Waves so that I could breathe in the ocean on our walk there and I could be with someone who I would refuse to drink in front of ever again. I put the guilt right in front of me to try to stave off the pain that was threatening to rip me in two.
“Well, this was unexpected.” Leonie walked toward me, her brown hair in a ponytail. It was swishing from side to side as she walked. “So to what do I owe the honor?”
I shrugged. “I thought I should check in with you. See how things were going. If you’d met a suitable guy yet.” I winked.
“That’s the last thing on my mind. I’m all about my career now.”
I pulled a face. “Is this what I did to you? Broke you for love? I’m so very sorry, Leonie. I’m a fuck-up of epic proportions.”
“Hey, the world’s not all about you.” She gave me a friendly jab to the arm. “I’m doing what Serena advised. Living life and seeing what opportunities arise naturally, while also keeping an eye out for lying billionaire assholes of course.”
“I think that’s wise. Well, if anyone makes a move and you’re interested, let me know. I’ll get a private investigator to check them out.”
Leonie clutched at her heart in a dramatic fashion. “Aww, shit, Smith. You’d do that for me? You’re amazing.” She rolled her eyes. “Is it sad that I might actually take you up on that offer because I don’t want to waste any more time? Anyway, come on. I want one of those gorgeous burgers.”
We made our way to Surfrider Beach. “I can see why Carter loves it out there.” She said looking out over the waves.
“You surf?”
“No, but it looks fun.”
“Maybe Carter could teach you sometime? He’s good at it. He’s taught a few people.”
“You?”
I shook my head. “No, I’d probably manage to drown myself. I’ll stick to my pool.”
We walked into Waves and I found us a table.
“This is where I sat with Carter, when he told me his lies.” Leonie announced.
I looked around the cafe looking for other vacant tables. “Would you rather move?”
“No. Let’s put good memories over those less favorable.”
The waitre
ss came over and took our orders for two ‘Hard Hitting Waves’, their burgers with hot chili sauce, and two glasses of ice cold water.
I thought I was sitting still but then Leonie fixed me with a hard stare and I realized I’d been drumming my hand on the table top.
“What’s going on, Smith?”
I stopped, sat back in my seat, forced my body to relax and smiled at her. “Nothing. I was just lost in thought. Sorry about that. It was rude of me.”
“My father was an alcoholic who liked to beat my mother. I know all the excuses, all the lies. How long have you been drinking again?”
I put my head in my hands. “Just yesterday, but when I fail, I do it spectacularly.”
