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“Blaire… you were saying?” Rae pats my arms.
“That guy I’ve been seeing is…” I pause again, then blurt out, “The hottie barback from The Oasis has been my fuck buddy the past two weeks?—”
“High five, girl!” Rae exclaims and holds her hand high above us.
I shake my head slowly and look down at the table. I scrunch my nose, then raise my eyes and catch Rae staring at me. I reach for her hand without high-fiving her. Laying our hands on the table, I sigh.
“He is now my student.” I cover my face with my hands, then peek between my fingers at her.
“Wait. What? Oh fuck. No way. Blaire.” Rae pulls my hands from my face and moves her head to look into my eyes. She leans toward me and asks, “What the fuck are you going to do?”
“I ended it,” I state firmly and point to my goblet.
“I need that filled, please.”
“Of course you do. My god. I can’t…” She carefully pours my glass full and slides it toward me. She physically closes her mouth with her hand as she stares at me.
“But just like that? It’s over? Really?”
I gulp down half of my wine again and cough to clear my throat. Nodding, I say, “Yes. I have no choice, Rae. I won’t risk my career no matter what. It was two weeks of fun.” I bring the wineglass to my lips again, finishing it. I stare past Rae, tipping the goblet from side to side. I remember how just how much fun those two weeks with Jaden were; the best fucking fun of my life, and now I have to let go, let him go, and move on whether I want to or not. It is what it is.
Rae pats my hand, bringing me out of my thoughts. I set the glass in the middle of the table, then fold my hands together.
“Besides, Britney comes first. You know that. I can’t and won’t lose my job because I want to fuck my student. I didn’t work all these years to ruin it now.” I hold my breath and wait for Rae to respond.
She hops off her stool and steps toward me. She reaches for and grabs my hands. Turing me to face her, she says, “I know damn well you’re heartbroken. You can let it out to me.”
I pull my hands free and stand next to her.
“No. I can’t be. There’s no place in my life right now for a fuck up. Jaden knows this. I’ve told him we cannot be together and that’s it. Final. No negotiations.” I’m sucking in as much air as I can to keep my composure.
“Sure… it hurts like hell, but it doesn’t matter. I’m a mother first. My child needs me, and I have to be there for her, always.”
I look at my best friend as she caresses my arm.
“It’s only two years. If he’s still interested in me when he graduates, great. Maybe we can pick up where we left off. For now. It’s over.” I swipe my hand in the air and shake my head.
“If you say so.” Rae hops back onto her stool. When she glances at me, I see that look she always gives me when she doesn’t believe a word I’ve said to her.
“I do say so, thanks.” Glaring at her, I purse my lips. I pick up the wineglass and drag my finger around the rim of it, thinking I could use another, but decide not to. I huff out a breath and shrug.
She asks, “What do you want to do for dinner? Isn’t this Britney’s week with her dad?”
“Yes, she is. I don’t know what I want to eat. Let’s ask Grace what she wants.” I look around the kitchen.
“Where is Grace?”
“Oh, I asked Mom to get her. She’s spending the night over there. I’m yours for the evening. Where are we going?”
“Let’s order Chinese. I don’t want to go out. And neither of us should drive after two glasses of wine.” I smile.
“Two? I think that’s your third, or fourth, Blaire.” Rae walks toward a tall hutch and brings out a basket of takeout menus.
“Which one?” She tosses three Chinese menus on the table.
“This one.” I slide my favorite one to her.
“And thanks for listening. I’m okay, promise.”
