Page 103 of I Love My Mistake

My breath catches as I muffle a laugh.

“Did you just laugh?” She side-eyeballs me.

I struggle to contain myself and fail miserably, busting up and giggling. “I can’t help it. I’m sorry. It’s just so Jess.”

A reluctant grin spreads on her face and she looks to the heavens. “It is very Jess.”

“You guys really fought about me? What happened?”

She tells me what went down and the more I hear, the more I know… this is just as bad as I was afraid of. “So, she won’t budge?” I shake my head, looking off. “All over some guy.”

Her eyes smile gently. “You know he’s not just some guy.” But something clouds over her, like she’s remembering something. “Did you have sex with Michael last night?”

The look she’s got working makes me lie. “No.”

Amber’s eyebrows rise up.

I reach out and touch her arm, look right into her eyes and hold them steady as I lie through my teeth. “I didn’t. It was awful…we left together, but when we got to the studio, we fought and I ran off. We didn’t have sex.” For extra power, I add a bit of truth. “I told him I’m in love with someone else. He didn’t take that well.” The fact is, fucking Michael is my mistake and I am the only one who needs to beat me up for it. I will take this secret to my grave. I only hope Michael does the same.

Amber lets out a breath of relief, a big enough one to let me know I was right not to tell her. She looks so grateful we didn’t fuck, that it makes me feel even worse that we did. But it’s too late now. She smiles at me, like she’s proud of me. “Sometimes you have to get something you want, to want to lose it, I guess.”

I nod and force a sarcastic laugh at the irony as I say what’s been on my mind. “And here’s me – the perpetually single girl – crushing men wherever I go, all of a sudden. I mean what the fuck? When did this happen?”

“You know what I think?”

I turn my head to her, hoping for hope. “No…what do you think?”

“I think that when two people love each other, they can overcome anything.”

My lip trembles uncontrollably as an emptiness takes over me. “Please tell me that applies to Jess, too.”

Her smile slides sadly away. “Oh Nico. Sweetie, I don’t know. I hope so. She called me, like I’m sure she’s called you, but I’m letting her sit with this. I think she has to come to an answer on her own. I think maybe if I hadn’t bitched at her, she wouldn’t have argued so much and she could have heard me more. Like maybe I made her defensive?”

“That’s pretty wise, Amb.”

“You think so?”

“I do.” My phone rings. I jump and quickly dig it out, but it’s Jack Fleming’s name staring back from the screen. I look at Amber as I answer, obviously disappointed. “Hi Jack.”

“Ms. Henry, how’re we doing with your paintings? The current installation is coming down in three days. I want a comfortable window to install yours, so let’s have them here then.”

“Of course. Three days? Okay.” I widen my eyes at Amber. She wiggles on the bench, tapping her feet on the ground with excitement.

Jack shuffles papers as he talks to me. “Great. I’ll have a truck come around to pick them up.”

“Really? I was wondering how’d I’d get them to you.”

He chuckles dryly. “Yes, we have all sorts of modern conveniences to help us get things from one place to another.”

Pursing my lips, I match his dry tone instantly. “You know what I mean, Jack.”

He laughs, pleased with himself. “Good afternoon, Ms. Henry.”

Muttering all kinds of obscenities in my mind, I say, “Goodbye Jack.”

Amber launches herself on me in a bear hug. “It’s happening!! Your first show!”

“Okay. Okay. I’m freaking out enough as it is,” I laugh, shaking her and her enthusiasm off.

She points her finger like she just came up with a great idea. “And Mark will be there.”

I frown at her like she’s dumb. “I know. And so will Jess.”

Her smile flickers. “Will she?”

Stone cold serious, I look away. “She’d better be.”

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