Page 228 of Unhinged

“Did you try to work it out? Perhaps an apology is necessary.”

With my coat beneath my arm, I perch my hands on my hips and scoff, “How insulting. Like I have zero pride. Who said I want her back?”

Amos’s face falls, and I want to punch him as I struggle not to break. “You love her—”

“I don’t, Vaughn. It was all an illusion, and you fell for it. Not a good look for you.”

He mouths, “Stop.”

I growl with my sigh and seethe, “What the hell would I gain by confronting her? Nothing. We’re over. We should never have even started. She dumped me because of an argument. How mature. I’m better off with my hand. No risk of spreading the wealth, if you know what I mean.” I maintain eye contact to sell it. This is my fuck-up to fuck up again. I don’t need anyone else shitting all over it too.

Amos’s gaze shoots to the counter, and it’s jarring to see him so shaken about my love life. I thought he lost his mind regarding Hadley, but this is a different level of absurd.

I mutter, “She’s leaving Richmond after graduation, anyway.”

“You really believe that?” I cross my arms and argue, but he yaps over me. “I apologize for overstepping in the matter, but Simone is a good person. Val was hopeful because she had never seen two soulmates interact with each other but not realize that energy yet. To be honest, you had tunnel vision for one woman who wasn’t Simone.” Before I can defend myself with a bullshit rebuttal, Amos shakes his head. “It was obvious. Simone clambered for your attention, but she also pined for you in silence and hopelessness. Remember the teasing during our softball games? When she joked about having a baby with you? At Brandon’s party, she sat next to you and stole your food. She wanted your help to bring Finn back to Richmond. She offered her help with Birdy. Greg, Simone had been in love with you, and you didn’t see it. I believe she would’ve been over the moon about conceiving a child with you. Simone wanted to make up for Shasta’s misdeeds.” Thinking about Simone pregnant with my son or daughter isn’t something I need right now. My throat tightens, and my eyes ache.

I snap, “I don’t need you to feed me this shit. Simone left me bleeding out, Amos.”

“And she ran off to hemorrhage alone.”

“I knew you’d take her side.”

“I’m on both of your sides. I tried talking her out of the annulment filing. I can’t comprehend how your love ended over a false pregnancy test. Greg, I know you and Simone lost your pregnancy. That’s the root of all this. It should’ve been a time you leaned on each other.” I glare at him, but he spews more. “When you fell in love with Simone, it was palpable and beautiful. Don’t let your love story die in vain.”

“You make me want to open a vein.”

Amos’s sigh would knock down two out of three of the Three Little Pigs’ houses. Before he hurls more horse shit, I head to the locker room, where I lock the door before sitting on the bench and removing the letter from my coat.

Taking a deep breath, I tear open the envelope and smell her perfume. My eyes water, but it’s only from the smell and not from anything else. I swear to God.

Dear Greg…

I close my eyes and swallow before devouring every word. I reread sentences several times because my hands quake more than San Francisco ever has.

When I’m finished, I read it three more times, and each time a different emotion takes precedence. Stopping on anger, I wipe my eyes and grit my teeth.

As thoughts run rampant in my mind, there’s only one that makes sense.

I whip the letter into my locker and slam the door before returning to the kitchen. Amos looks up from his phone, and noticing the steely determination on my face, he asks, “What is it?”

“I’m ready to take the LSAT.”

His eyes bug out more than one of those stress dolls. “What? It’ll take months to prepare.”

“I’ve had months. I’ve studied my ass off. Ready.”

“Are you serious?” My jaw tics as my silence answers for me. Amos then nods. “Okay, then. The upcoming one is in March. Let’s schedule it.” He plays with his phone and then looks up at me. “Did you decide on a school?”

“The University of Richmond School of Law.”

Amos grins, but he douses it fast. “Hmm. So, I won’t be returning alone.” I cross my arms and glance out the window, so I don’t have to bathe in his glee. “You can work nights as my paralegal. No one will be in the office to bother you, except me sometimes.” I nod, expecting that delightful glitch.

“You haven’t thought of this at all.”

He shrugs. “Perhaps I hoped.”

“I’m not living with you.”

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