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“Mmm, yeah, that too. That and the topic you didn’t want to elaborate on.” Tiffany asks.
Rolling my eyes, I end up sighing and plonk myself onto my couch. I forgot I told her I didn’t want to talk about a guy I met.
I twist my lips and decide it’s best to talk to her in person about it rather than over the phone.
“You want to come over tomorrow and chat whilst I unpack? Glass of wine included in the invite.”
“Babe, I’ve got two kids, and you’re offering me time to step away from them and a glass of wine?Of course, just tell me when. Make sure it’s after you sleep. I want you happy, not cranky.”
“So, the wine is the main reason to see me?” I act exasperated.
She laughs in response. “Never. But it’s a perk. Now go get something to eat and beat this bitch of a jet-leg.”
“Go to bed, Tiff.” I laugh and we hang up at the same time.
I make a deep sigh and make my way over to the kitchen, glancing between the fridge and kettle.
“Fuck it. I need coffee.”
A day later, finally, I have Tiffany in my apartment, ready to listen to the hell of a story I have to tell. In short, I need to vent.
“Okay, I can see you’re getting exhausted, and that’s the jet lag slapping you across the face. Let’s drink up and quickly go over the events that played out.”
I nod and retell her everything that happened, from my perving to our arguments. The dinner–sugar coating the sexual exploits–and then the fight in the end.
“Wow, he actually came and tried to ruin your book signing?” Her eyes widen, then she furrows her eyebrows and adds, “That’s… extreme. Especially for someone who seemed to really like you.” I see the scepticism written in her expression.
“How do you know if he liked me or not? He got what he wanted. Well, I guess we both did. I feel annoyed at how weak I was around him.”
She sighs and says, “Abi, he fucking ‘wooed’ you, don’t you see? He chased you and didn’t push you into anything you didn’t want to partake in. Besides, if he wasn’t really interested in you, he would have likely slept the whole female team at the resort,” she snorts. “But he didn’t do that.”
I bite my lip as I contemplate Jaxon’s behavior. Were there parts that I dismissed, or didn’t, see?
“What about the whole fact that he sells those ridiculous books? Those people were actually excited to read them and see him in Queensland! He has a freaking following of man whores and sluts.” I cross my arms and pout at the notion.
“Woah, that’s taking it a little too far, Abi. We all slept around. It doesn’t make us all whores or sluts. Besides, you, out of all people, should know that no one likes to be branded that way. You shouldn’t care what others do. Technically, it’s no one’s business except theirs.” Tiffany shrugs and I know there is truth to her words. “Besides, wasn’t it your ringtone that specifically sang, ‘But fuck who you want and fuck who you like’?”
I purse my lips as I remember the song that I felt was my anthem. “Yeah, I know, sorry. I went too far.”
She nods her head and then stands up, taking both of our empty glasses, and walks over to the sink.
“I think that’s what Jaxon is trying to express, that’s all. I skimmed through his book,” she turns to me and smirks, “yes, I bought his book. But it was homework. I needed background reading.” She turns back to the sink and rinses out the glasses. Bless her heart. Less work for me.
“What else did you get from his so-called book?”
“That I think something went awry in his past. Like someone burnt him, and as a result, he has trust and commitment issues. I think he uses this as a coping mechanism, not letting himself get too close to women. Not physically, but like… emotionally. Put his anger into writing and, well, fucking. Actually, isn’t that what you sort of did, too?” She switches off the tap and returns to me, leaning against the couch with a pointed look.
“What?” I narrow my eyes, surprised at her words.
“Well, when your ex’s emotionally hurt you, you drank yourself into a pity party. Then youstarted sleeping around because you didn’t want to risk being emotionally strung. All you had in the end was anger and used it up through sex. Then wrote a book about it. Except from a different angle. So, without pointing fingers at anyone…” she says sarcastically, “you pretty much did the same thing that Jaxon did.” Tiffany finishes with a shrug. My jaw drops at her comment.
Fuck. She’s right. I’m a hypocrite!
Tiffany then furrows her eyebrows at me and says, “What surprises me is the whole ending to this fling. Why would he crash your event, rather than support you? He came to have breakfast with you! Like it doesn’t make sense for him to suddenly want to destroy you, or whatever it seemed was his intention.”
“Yeah, I don’t get it either.”
Tiffany clicks her fingers and says, “Oh, I have an idea!”
