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When I get on my bike, though, all thoughts of Belinda get left behind as the wind whips over me. The only thing on my mind is when I’ll get to see Trina again.
CHAPTER 13
Trina
I collapse into a sofa in the library above the Four Cups Café. Everyone’s here. Simone is regaling us with a hilarious story about her college boyfriend breaking up with her because he thought she ate too much cheese. Jen is making tea for everyone. Fiona is bustling around throwing a blanket over my legs, tidying a few books that have been left out, overall just acting like a mother hen. Candice is sitting next to me, a quiet, supportive presence.
It’s nice being taken care of. It’s not something I experience very often.
When Jen puts a chamomile tea in my hands, I inhale the scent of the steam and let out a sigh.
“You good?” Simone asks.
I shrug. “As good as can be.”
“I still think you should have refused to let him have the kids tonight,” Candice says as her lips curl downward. “The absolute gall of that man! To barge in here a day early to his planned visitation and turn the kids against you by promising ice cream and fun. He’s going to play ‘Fun Dad,’ and I wouldn’t put it past him to shit-talk you behind your back.”
“I gave in because I want us to have a good co-parenting relationship. If I put up a big fight about one night, then what? We get adversarial and nothing works.”
“The minute he called you a whore, you should have punched him in the throat. Screw good co-parenting when someone verbally abuses you like that.” That harsh comment comes from Fiona, and everyone hums in agreement.
My brows arch. “That’s a particularly violent statement. Have you been hanging out with Agnes lately?”
Fiona laughs. “No, but cheating spouses who then get mad about you moving on to something better hits close to home. He has no right to make you feel bad about what’s going on with Mac.”
“Nothing’s going on with Mac,” I respond, even though after almost a week, I can still feel the taste of his lips on mine.
“What happened after you left the café?” Simone asks.
Stalling for time, I lift my mug to my lips. It’s too hot to drink, and I grimace when I burn the roof of my mouth. Since everyone is still waiting for me to respond, I release a sigh and shrug. “We went back to my place. Kevin booked an AirBnB since his room at the hotel was ‘double-booked.’” Everyone snickers at the comment, and I just shake my head. “When Katie heard his new place had a pool, I’d pretty much already lost the battle.”
“Yep.” Candice nods, lips pinched. “He’s playing ‘Fun Dad.’”
Fiona lets out a disgusted snort. “What an ass.”
“He’s not a bad father. I can’t keep him from seeing the kids. I want them to have a good relationship with him.” I don’t know why I’m defending him. Kevin cheated on me. I found out when I saw tickets to an art gallery opening and thought they were for the two of us, only to discover he was taking his mistress instead. I spent years supporting him while he pursued his passion for painting, and then was left behind when he finally made it.
He never appreciated the work I put in at the start of our marriage to support us, and he definitely didn’t appreciate the work it took to raise two children. He’d stay in his studio until late at night, then reappear and be the World’s Best Dad for a few days.
I don’t know why I put up with it before, and I’m not sure why I’m not as outraged as my friends. Maybe I’m just tired.
“Anyway, it’s fine,” I tell them. “I’ll be able to get some job applications done this weekend.”
“Have you put any thought into starting a stylist business?” Fiona asks, tucking one leg under her butt as she sits down.
I frown. “Well…no. You guys weren’t serious about that, were you?”
Fiona shrugs. “I’d pay you for advice on how to dress. You’re really good at it, Trina.”
I shake my head, dismissing the thought immediately. “No. No, I’ll look for a real job.”
Simone and Candice exchange a glance. Simone gives me a soft smile. “Girl, none of us here have real jobs. They’re overrated, anyway.”
My heart thumps, but striking out on my own and doing something related to fashion is just too much for me. It’s too far out of my comfort zone. What happened this morning with Kevin has me reeling, and the thought of starting a business when my life is in such upheaval? I shake my head. “I’m not… I don’t… I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“Start small,” Simone says. “With me or Fiona—”
“Or me,” Candice cuts in.
