Page 57 of Wildest Dreams

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

“I bet he and Whitney broke up,” says Patsy, pulling out her phone. I know she’s about to work her network of spies to find out what’s going on.

“They’re both horrible people, so it’s entirely possible.”

“I’ll see what I can find out,” she says, eyes glued to her screen and fingers moving so fast I don’t know how she keeps up.

“Don’t bother wasting your time,” I say.

Sure enough, by the end of the week Patsy learned Tucker found texts on Whitney’s phone from a guy she’d met at the gym. He hired a private investigator to follow her and, as it turns out, the gym guy isn’t the only one she’s been messing around with since they got married.

“Wow,” I say when she tells me. “I guess people really do get what they deserve.”

* * *

Aweek goes by and Tucker reaches out again, only this time he calls. I know it sounds pathetic, but I do feel sorry for him. I know what it’s like to be cheated on, thanks to him. It completely robs you of your dignity and self-worth.

He leaves me a voicemail. “Hey, Kendall. I know you hate me, and that’s fine. I’m not trying to get back with you or harass you. I’m going through some stuff and need someone to talk to. You’re the best listener I know. Call me back if you can.”

I wait a few days before deciding whether to respond. When I play the message for Patsy, she does not hold back.

“I know where we could hide his body,” she says.

“Patsy, seriously.”

“I am serious. In Cold Man’s Creek, you can dump a body and the alligators would clean the bones before anyone would be any the wiser. That’s why it’s Cold Man’s Creek.”

“We’re not killing Tucker.”

“He’s being selfish. You don’t owe him anything. He’s never brought anything but misery to anyone he’s ever known. He’s a scourge on the human race.”

“That’s a little dramatic.”

“You’re not thinking of seeing him, are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Kendall! Do not fall back into this with him. If Pierre taught you nothing else, you should know that you can do better. More importantly, youdeservebetter.”

I sigh and give her a hug. “I love you,” I tell her. “You’re crazy, but I love you.”

* * *

After a few more days of thinking, I decide to see Tucker. Maybe I need closure, or maybe I’m curious to see how miserable he is now that Whitney’s served him up a big dose of karma. Of course, I do not tell Patsy about my plans. I’ll fill her in after the fact so she can’t talk me out of it.

We meet at Cattywampus. When I arrive, he already has a table. It’s early on a weekday before the after-work crowd arrives, and there’s hardly anyone here besides Calista, who cuts her eyes at me like she can’t believe I’m there with Tucker. He looks bloated, his hair longer than normal, and he has dark stubble on his face and neck.

He’s already ordered a Pussy Cat Blonde for me, so I sit down. I keep my purse in my lap and cross my arms to make sure my body language is as uninviting as possible.

“You look amazing, Ken,” he says.

“Don’t call me that,” I say. “Why did you want to meet?”

“She cheated on me.” The lines on his face deepen and he looks at me with brown doe eyes.

“I know.”

“Of course you do. The whole town knows. It’s humiliating.”

---