Page 118 of Unhinged

“Then…?”

“I don’t want to go there.”

“Okay.” I slump somewhat and tell myself I can still trust him. It’s none of my beeswax. Still…

“What about you?” he repeats.

“I’ve been in love zero times. I thought maybe I was with three or four guys, but all those duds were lapses in judgment like the rest. I know nothing about love or how to fall into it. To be honest, falling now scares the shit out of me because of how many times I’ve been wrong.”

Greg’s mouth drops open, and then he clears his throat as the harlot returns my card. He probably loved this IHOP bitch. She coolly hands me my card with a thank you to Greg. Rolling my eyes, I pick up the receipt and sign it with my shaking hand. I feel him watching me, almost extra focused on a menial task. But I realize why after I sign my first name.

Since I haven’t changed my bank cards yet, I irritably sign Garrison. Still feeling his eyes on me, I glance up at him and ask, “What?”

“You married me to avoid that. What was the point, then?”

My lips part as his words smack me in the face. Yes, I’m grateful to change my name, but I could’ve lived with it for a while longer.

I drop the pen and put on my coat as he grabs his. I yank my purse from the other side of the bench seat. “I don’t know what the point of it was, Greg. I told you I don’t need your phony compassion. I’m not some sociology project for studying daddy issues.” I stare at the table, willing myself to hold myself together. I’m such a baby lately. I then inhale a shaky breath. “I don’t think this date was a good idea.”

“What? Why?”

I rise and head outside before I bawl in an IHOP in front of the guy I’ve crushed on for a damn year and married for absolutely no reason.

As my chunky-heeled boots scrape against the concrete, I hear fast-walking footsteps behind me. When a hand goes to my upper arm and stops me, I’m hopeful it’s a mugger. Greg angles his head lower, asking, “What the hell did I do?”

With my knuckles, I dab the tears beneath my eyes, trying to avoid looking like a raccoon. “I told you I need out of this marriage deal. I’ve already ruined your love life.”

“Simone, I swear to God that you didn’t ruin it.”

“You didn’t have to say the exact words. I feel like I forced you to marry me, forced you to go on a date with me, and forced you to eat here. I feel like I even forced you to have…”

I resume walking, but he grabs my arm again. “Simone, you didn’t force me to do any of it. I wanted every single thing with you. I remember telling you when I thought you were asleep. It’s all true.”

“Refresh my memory, then. You said a lot of shit that night. Not all good.” His jaw drops, and he stammers with nothing by the bunch. I roll my eyes. “That’s what I thought. You were drunk.”

“I said I was sorry for hurting you and that you’re my best friend.” I look to the parking lot, and he moves to face me. “I said that I wanted you to keep my name and to stay married to me.”

“But why? There’s no way I’m your BFF over Hadley.” I pull a tissue out of my purse to dry my face. Greg frowns, and I feel shitty for breaking down like this in front of an IHOP on a date. “Especially when you didn’t like me. And I saw the hate in your eyes when I showed up with Amos.”

He props his hand on the brick of the building and shakes his head. “I never, not for one second, hated you.” Greg sighs, narrows his eyes toward the parking lot and then looks at me again. “Yes, I was mad at you that night because I thought you were mocking me and then for making me face my demons. And yes, I was fucking pissed off at you for telling my mom, but you didn’t know she was my mother. I get it. None of it was your fault. I hated myself, and I blamed you for everything because I didn’t want to take the blame. I’m sorry. I mean that, Simone.”

“You changed that night. I miss the Greg I knew. He was so witty and charming. I never met anyone like him.”

Greg’s eyes fall to my lips, and I want to make out with him in front of IHOP. He sighs and pushes his hand into his hair. “I’m still here. I’ve just been going through some shit, trying to sort out my life.”

“And then I mess it up.”

He lifts my chin, and his touch is white-hot on my skin. “Back in Richmond, I met a woman who didn’t put up with my smart mouth. Everyone, including us, thought we were oil and water at first, but we were more like yin and yang of trolling each other.”

I smile. “It’s all you.”

Greg laughs but then is serious in the bright fluorescent lights overhead. “The night that really changed me was the one in front of the gym. I may have brushed you aside, but you’re the only person to see my dark side and didn’t hit the bricks. After I moved down here, I missed you the most, and that irritated the fuck out of me. And when you showed up at the country club, I was such a dick to you because I was still mad and afraid it was a joke, and then you’d leave. Now, I’m on a date with you, and I really don’t want it to end.”

“You don’t?”

“No way. I mean, I need to kick your ass at miniature golf. It’s a necessity.”

I giggle as I dab the rest of my tears. “You have no chance of beating me.”

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