Page 12 of Dump and Chase

She popped her head in and when she saw me sitting up, she came inside. She was still in her Newman’s uniform of a short black shirt and fitted black top. Sexy but professional.

“How’d it go?” she asked, her voice having lost its edge from this afternoon.

“It was fine. Sad.”

“And Ethan?”

I bristled at the memory of less than an hour ago. “He’s fine, I guess. We talked a bit. We’re both going our separate ways.”

“That’s good,” she said, her light brown eyes searching me for some sign that that wasn’t true. “I’m sort of feeling bad that I didn’t go today. Maybe I should have gone.”

I wished she had. There would have been no way I would have ended up in bed with Ethan if she’d been there with me. “You sent a card. That should be fine.”

She stood there for a second, thinking of something, her gaze fixed on my bedroom window. Then she turned to me again. “Was it weird seeing him?”

“A little.”

“Did he look the same?”

“A little older.”

“Was he nice to you?”

Part of me wanted to tell her what had gone on this evening, but she’d kill me. “He was polite. Sounds like he’ll be around for a bit, sorting out his Dad’s will. Did you know he was engaged?”

Leah’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Are you shitting me?”

“Nope. He mentioned it to me. I’m pretty sure I was one of the last people to know.”

“What an asshole! The guy who said he was never going to get married is engaged to someone other than you?”

“It’s fine. It makes cutting that final tie easier.”

She scooted me over and sat next to me. “I’m sorry, Tang. I know that’s all you ever wanted from him. To finally pop the question, and the asshole does to someone else. I thought the two of you would be forever.”

“So did I. But he moved on, and I moved on.”

“I’m going to make it my life’s work to find you a real man. One who respects and loves you. Ethan will be sorry he let you go.”

I hugged her and part of me wanted to cry and tell her everything, but I was too ashamed. How stupid had I been for jumping into bed with him? No, no one would ever find out. It would be my secret forever.

ChapterSeven

Ethan

My phone was buzzing on the nightstand. I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed away the sleep. The night before came flooding back and I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, but I knew who was calling. Ava and I had agreed to help Mom with some of the paperwork and the visit to the lawyer’s. I had no idea death was so complicated.

I sat up and grabbed my phone. Ava had sent a dozen texts and called several times. Shit, I was late. After Tangi had left, I couldn’t get to sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d looked when I’d told her about Brandi. Her hurt and anger was like a knife to my gut, a knife that kept twisting. I hated the way we’d left it, but I had to let her go. She was right: we had to be done.

I’ll be there in 20 minutes.

I hoped that would hold off Ava’s onslaught. I took a shower and didn’t even have time for breakfast. By the time I got to Mom and Dad’s, I’d made good time. Just a few minutes late. Ava was standing at the dining room table while Mom sat. There were stacks of boxes in front of them.

“So glad you could make it,” Ava said sarcastically.

“Sorry. Slept in.”

The look on Ava’s face told me she knew it was more than that. Everyone who’d been at the wake knew that Tangi and I had left together. There would be so many questions, but knowing Tang like I did, she’d tell people that we’d talked, had a bite to eat, and decided to go our separate ways. She wouldn’t tell anyone the truth.

---