AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. I don’t think he’d be like that.” I popped another chip into my mouth. “Of course”—I swallowed—“I didn’t think he’d be a lying, dumb-fuck cheater who’d knock somebody else up, either.” I took another hefty sip of my drink. “So, there’s that.”
My girls all nodded in agreement.
“I thought he wasit. You know. I thought I had finally found Mr. Right.”
“Pshh—” Audrey’s eyes were glazed, and her speech a little slurred. For some unknown reason, she was pounding the margaritas back tonight with fervor. “He wasn’t Mr. Right. He was Mr. Left, Mr. Wrong. He’s every opposite you can think of for Mr. Right.” She shook the contents of her glass, lifted it to her lips, and slurped the rest of the liquid down. “Men suck!”
“Ignore her,” Jenny instructed, brushing Audrey off. “Look”—she waved her hand nonchalantly—“okay, so youthoughthe was Mr. Right. Clearly, he wasn’t. Mr. Right wouldn’t do you dirty like that. Maybe you could get over the cheating.” She shrugged. “But a baby? Yeah, hell no!”
“Ah,hells no!” Audrey hiccupped, her head bouncing from side to side like a Bobblehead.
“I think you should just see what he has to say. Hear him out. Be the bigger person,” Jenny said.
“But don’t fall for his bullshit excuses or lies,” Lauren warned.
“Yeah. None of”—Audrey hiccupped—“what she said.”
“I just want closure.”
“I get it,” Lauren said. “Just use your head, not your heart. Bastard doesn’t deserve it.”
Jenny placed her hand on my arm. “You need me to come with?”
“No. I think I’ll be okay.” I swirled the straw around in my margarita.
They stared back at me, and I could tell they weren’t entirely convinced. “I’ll be fine. I’ll only be gone a few days.” I watched my cocktail swirl in my glass, the ice cubes riding around in the liquid like little kids in a jacuzzi.
“It’ll be fine.” Audrey touched my hand, hiccupping again. She reminded me of the little mouse inDumbo.
I squared my shoulders. “I’ll go on my interviews and meet up with him afterward if he’s free. If not, oh well. That’s his problem.”
“Damn straight!”
I shrugged. “I can be the bigger person and hear him out. As long as I get my money I don’t care.”
“But, remember, we are only a phone call away.” Jenny swiveled her head, making eye contact with the others. “And seriously, if you need me, I can come up with you,” Jenny reminded me.
I squeezed her hand. “I know.”
* * *
Later that night,I broke the news to Grams and Pops that I’d be heading to San Francisco for some interviews.
It was a mixture of happiness and sadness. Happy because it was what I wanted, and I was following my dream. Sad because it meant I’d be leaving again.
“We were just hoping you’d be able to stay a little longer.”
“I know, Grams.” I fiddled with my cup.
“It’s not that I don’t want you to go back, but . . .” She sighed. “Actually, I’m selfish, and I want you here.” She smiled, grabbing my hand and holding it between hers. “But I know owning your own restaurant is a dream of yours.” She kissed the back of my hand. “And”—she shrugged—“who knows. Maybe you’ll open up a restaurant down here someday.” Her support eased the guilt I was feeling.
“You never know what the future holds,” Pops said with a smile at Grams.
“Nope. I’ve certainly been surprised a few times lately, that’s for sure.” The idea of leaving them again broke my heart, but I needed to follow my own. Sure, it’d be nice to stay with them for a couple of months, help out, and just be with them. My grandparents were by no means old, but they were the only family I had, and I knew they wouldn’t be around forever.
“I just wish you could find a way to settle here. I love you,Cara,” she said with a sniffle. “She’s grown up on us, Sal.” She turned to my grandfather, circling her arms around him and nuzzling into his chest.
“She sure has,” he said as he embraced her tightly. He looked at me and smiled. “We are so very proud of you.”
