Page 24 of When You Had Me Adapting

Lacey: I think I’m still in shock.

Gray: I’m really sorry. I wasn’t thinking and honestly didn’t know Jace didn’t know about Tanner.

Lacey: It’s not your fault. It would have all come out eventually. I just wasn’t expecting him to deny what he did.

Poppy: Logan and I are on our way home!

Chloe: Well, we believe you and that’s what matters.

Wren: Exactly. He can deny it all he wants, but we got your back.

Gray: Hell yeah we do!

Lacey: Thanks everyone. Poppy, y’all don’t have to come here. I think I’m going to take a bath and read the new book I just downloaded.

Poppy: Too late and we’re bringing you a surprise!

Iset my phone down and turn on the tub. I pour some lavender bubble bath into the water and mindlessly watch as the bubbles begin to form.

I walk out into my bedroom and grab my e-reader. I carefully place it on the bamboo tray sitting on top of the tub and grab my “smells like him calling you a good girl” candle. It was a total impulse buy, but the woodsy scent is my favorite. I undress and check the water. Most people would complain it’s too hot, but that’s just how I like it—the hotter, the better.

The minute I climb into the bath, my muscles instantly relax. I take a deep breath, letting the scent of lavender and wood fill my nostrils. Then, I pick up my e-reader and begin to read.

I get stuck on the three little words on the top of the first page.

I hate him.

I read a lot and exclusively romance. I know where this is headed and for the first time it annoys me and I’m not sure why. The main character of my book is beautiful and smart and of course the man she hates is incredibly handsome and swoony. I usually eat this shit up, but tonight I’m rolling my eyes.

I fully intended on having an adult conversation with Jace when I got back from Orlando, but then he got angry about me sleeping with Tanner. It’s not like I did it behind his back when he and I were still together. He has no right getting upset. I’m not his. He made sure of ruining that a decade ago.

The minute I outed him for cheating on me I regretted how I did it, but it was too late. I was on my third drink of the night and acted impulsively. I don’t know why I was so surprised he denied it. It’s like deep down I wanted him to prove me wrong. Prove that he had changed.

I massage my temples where a headache is beginning to form. While the events of the night sobered me up, I’m still feeling slightly woozy from all the drinks I consumed. I close my eyes, letting my head rest on the back of the tub.

A knock on my bathroom door startles me. “Pop?”

“Yeah, can I come in?”

“Sure.”

Poppy walks in with a sad look on her face. She’s holding chocolate ice cream and fries. “Logan thought you might need some cheering up. Want me to put it in the kitchen for after your bath?”

“Would you judge me if I ate it now?” I laugh.

“Not at all.” She hands me my comfort snack and then heads toward the door. “I’m sorry about tonight,” she says, pausing with her hand on the door frame and looking over her shoulder. “I know you wanted it to be so much better than it was. I’m sorry I pressured you to talk. I was really hoping he had changed.”

I dip a fry into the chocolatey goodness and pop it into my mouth. The salty, sweet mixture dances on my tongue and I instantly start to feel a little better. “It’s not your fault. Maybe next time we do something with just the girls.”

She nods her head in agreement and walks out, shutting the door behind her.

My alarm blaresthe next morning and despite my bath and my attempts to relax, I barely slept. I quickly throw on scrubs, make my London Fog, and head out the door towards my black Mini Cooper. Traffic is worse than usual and my head is pounding. By the time I walk through the doors of Dogwood Manor, I feel on edge.

“Good morning,” Margaret, my boss, sings as I walk into the therapy gym. “Do you have a minute to chat before your first patient?”

I look down at my watch. “Um, sure, let me clock in real quick.”

“No need to have this eating into your productivity. It’ll only be a minute.”

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