Page 82 of Strum Me

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Emily

The tears fall hot and fast.

I don’t even bother to wipe them away as I try to put as much distance between me and the tent where I’ve just left Brad.

You’re the fuck up. I play it over in my head, over and over.

It hurts.

But he’s right.

I did fuck up.

I fucked up back then, and I’m fucking up now.

“Hey babe.” Cadence waves to me as she wanders over from the group of people she’s chatting with.

I cover my face, not wanting her to see me like this.

“Whoa. Wait up, hey, what’s wrong?” She grabs me by the arm and forces me to face her. She’s oddly strong for a woman.

“It’s…ahhhhh.” I brush my hands over my face, wiping off the last stream of tears. “It’s …I’m okay.”

She pinches my ear and growls, “Bitch, you better tell me what’s up or I’m gonna wrestle every last word out of you!”

Her sudden change in voice and tone surprises me so much I burst out laughing.

“What the hell was that?”

“I was being forceful!”

“It worked.”

She grins and pauses, then her face turns serious. “Come on, out with it.”

“Brad.”

“Hmm.”

“‘Hmm’ what?”

“Nothing.”

“Brad is…ahhh, I fucked up!”

“Honey, I don’t know what you did, but I guarantee you, it won’t be the last time you fuck up, so you better get used to dealing with it now.”

“Um, comforting.”

“Thanks. I’m a teacher.”

“Do you have any kids left by the end of the year?”

“Only the ones who didn’t chew through their restraints.”

“Who are you?”