Page 35 of When You Had Me Adapting

“Yeah, I know.”

“What do you mean you know? I thought you caught him with a girl?”

“I did. He just didn’t see me.”

“Please explain.” The light switches to green and she begins to drive again.

“I don’t know. I walked into that coffee shop and he was with some other girl. Mariah was with me and instantly yanked me out and back to the train. I was embarrassed and felt so silly that I planned to surprise him. Fuck, I had planned to lose myvirginity that trip. You remember? So, I called him when we got back to Mariah’s and ended things. I told him we obviously wanted different things because we did. He wanted the blue-haired chick I saw him with and I wanted him.”

“Lacey—”

“I know what you’re thinking, but I didn’t lie to you. I told you he cheated and we broke up. That’s what happened.”

“Lacey—”

“What?”

“I think you should hear him out.”

“Why so he can continue to lie and make me feel like I’m crazy? You heard him the other night. He’s not going to admit to it. He’s not going to apologize for breaking my heart.” I turn the radio back on and the car fills with “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter.

“Lacey!” Poppy slams the volume knob with her palm returning us to silence. “Talk to him. Figure this shit out. I’m done being in the middle of it. I don’t know who to believe anymore and I’m exhausted and so is everyone else.”

“I called him out the other night and while I admit I should have gone about it a different way, he lied in front of everyone. Then, he convinced you and Logan to talk to him and it sounds like he continued to lie.” I take a deep breath. “I know what I saw. It’s not like I was the only person who saw it. Mariah did too. Do I need to call her so she can remind you what happened? I didn’t lie to anyone. He’s lying and trying to save face in front of his friends.”

She inhales deeply. “You need closure. The past ten years I’ve watched you with guy after guy and I supported you through it. You compare everyone to Jace. No one is good enough. They’re all below average lays you forget about the next day. Maybe if you talk to him, it’ll give you the closure you need to move on and find someone worth your time.”

“You taking his side was not on my BINGO card for today.” The knot in my stomach tightens. She knows what he did to me. Why is she believing him over me?

“I’m not taking sides. This is getting out of hand. If he really cheated on you, then he deserves an Oscar for the performance he gave the other night at Logan’s. And if he didn’t, then, we, well you, have let it take over your life for the past ten years. I love you, but the two of you need to sort this out.”

“You’re my best friend in the entire world and he was the love of my life. You remember the aftermath of D.C.” My voice cracks and tears roll down my face. “I know everyone thinks I’m dramatic, but I’m not that good of an actress. He broke my heart. Do you really think I would lie to you? That I’d intentionally ruin your relationship with him?”

“No and I know he did, but maybe it was a misunderstanding. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Please talk to him. Put this behind you, so we can all move on.”

“Okay,” I say quietly.

“Good, I’ll share his contact.”

“Great.” I turn the radio back on, and we don’t talk for the rest of the drive.

Poppy sharedJace’s contact the minute we walked into our apartment. I have been sitting on my bed for fifteen minutes staring at his number and contemplating what to say. Nothing seems right.“Hi?” “Hey?” “Howdy?” “What’s kickin chicken?”I type and delete each one. I fall back into the pile of clothes on the top of my bed and begin to type.

Lacey: Hello.

Well, that was fucking brilliant.

Jace: Sorry, I don’t have your number saved. Who is this?

Lacey: It’s Lacey. Poppy said you wanted to talk.

Jace: Hey, pixie. Why don’t you come over tonight and we can sort through things?

Lacey: Stop calling me that. I have a date tonight.

Jace: A date?

Lacey: Yes, a date. Not that it’s any of your business.

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