Page 129 of Unhinged

“And she’s her daughter-in-law? No wonder she’s here.”

Spinning from the coat rack, I ask, “Is there a problem?”

Heifer One crosses her arms with a snooty and ugly expression. She should really moisturize and wear at least a dollar store eyeliner. “No problem. How’s your husband?”

“He’s fine.”

Elijah sulks, “You’re married, Simone? To Dr. Abramson’s damn son? And you went out with me?”

“Greg and I were seeing each other off and on and just eloped.” It’s the closest thing to the truth. I wish I had stayed home today with Greg.

Heifer One purses her thin lips and turns up her pig snout, like she’s forced to tour a homeless shelter. As if I’m not here, she says, “She must’ve gotten down on her knees to convince him to elope.”

Elijah scowls at me. “Oh. I see. I guess you enjoyed jerking me around.”

“That’s not true.”

He storms past me. “Stop talking.”

My throat tightens. I’m like my mother. I hate it when most people hate me. I glare at Heifer One. “You satisfied?”

“Pretty much. I’m horrified for Greg. How in the hell did he get mixed up with you?”

“You don’t even know me. Why am I such a problem for you?”

“I don’t like how you flirted with Elijah. It was sickening. And then you reel him in, but you’re screwing the boss’s son on the side. Classy.”

“My relationship with Greg is none of your business.”

“Does Dr. Abramson know you’ll dump her son when the next guy comes along?”

“You are way off and out of line.”

“He’s just your next victim. You don’t love him.”

“Who in the hell says I don’t?” Fuck me to France and back. “My marriage is real while yours is a sham, and you know it.”

“Who do you think you are? I’ve known Greg for way longer than you. I’m looking out for him.”

“Oh, really?” I cross my arms and walk closer. “Like how you flirted with a sixth-grader?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Or how you asked a seventeen-year-old about his girlfriends and how far he went with them?” I don’t know everything she said to Greg, so I’m using a creative license. It’s warranted.

I stop far enough from her that I’m not in choking distance since I will kill her. “If you ever look at my husband again or lust after his ass, I will—”

“You’ll what?” she challenges me, crossing her arms under her droopy boobs her scrubs can’t hide. “Punch me?”

“I’ll tell his mother everything you said to her minor son.”

She laughs. “I’ve been here for years, sweetie. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I don’t care if you’re older than God. You can say whatever you want to me, but you’re treading on thin ice with Greg Rodwell. He’s my everything, and you’re a whole lot of nothing.”

I turn and leave, shaking but feeling like I stood up for him. I will always defend Greg. Even when he’s my ex.

Going to Dr. Abramson’s office, I knock on the doorframe, and her fast glance and weird lip-roll thing greet me before she returns to her papers. I say, “Good morning.”

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