Page 121 of The Secret

I started sobbing again, trying to catch my breath as I got to the bit that really hurt. “He kept saying I was being ridiculous and so I called him a petulant child who always got his own way, and he stormed out. I honestly don’t know if he’s ever coming back.”

She scooped me back into her side, “Oh, honey, of course he will. It’s just a first argument. That’s all.”

My shoulders heaved with each cry. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him so angry, or hurt.”

“But you haven’t known him that long though,” she said softly. “Maybe this is just him. And it doesn’t sound like he’s challenged very often, so he’s not used to it.”

She handed me a paper napkin and I wiped my nose. “Maybe. But I don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who always needs to have his own way. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.”

She sighed, her expression sad, not as sad as mine was, but still sad enough that I knew it was upsetting her too. “I know, but it’s always better to find these things out now rather than down the road, because then you’re really fucked.”

I nodded weakly.

She pulled her purse out, threw some dollars on the table and stood up. “Come on, let’s get out of here. Do we need to get your things from the apartment?”

Ugh, I hadn’t even thought of that. Or I had and forgotten.

“Yes, please.”

“Okay, let’s go. Then once we’ve done that, we’re going to find a bar.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” I was so grateful she wanted to stay, but was very aware she had a busy job.

She waved her phone at me. “The beauty of technology means I can work anywhere. How long does his mom have Bell?”

“Diane is taking her tonight. Her and Freddie are taking her to the country to spend time with the girls.”

I followed her out of the doors, into the Monday which had started so much better than it was going now.

“Have you spoken to Marcia?”

I shook my head. “The girls were talking to her today, as they hired me. It’s why Diane has Bell; Murray wanted me to stop working immediately so I could spend the time finding a permanent job.”

“Is that where his Columbia comment came from?”

My head hung, “Yeah.” I glanced at her when she didn’t say anything. “What?”

She chewed her thumbnail for second. “He has a point. That’s an excellent job and you know it. I can’t even believe they’ve kept the option open for you. That should tell you everything.”

“It’s not that I don’t want the job, I just didn’t want it by default. I wanted to earn it, just like I didn’t want to move in by default.”

“Why on earth do you think you wouldn’t have earned it?” she scoffed.

“Because I was her favorite student. I wanted to see if I could get other jobs without preferential treatment.”

Her eyes rolled dramatically. “You were her favorite student for a reason, because you were top of the class and you worked your ass off. If you think that old bat, Grady, would have offered you a job you didn’t deserve, then you need your head checked. You earned that job, Kit. Take it.”

I could feel her gaze on me while the next question whirred in my mind, unsure I wanted to hear her honest response. “Do you think he’s also right to be pissed about me wanting to move out?”

“No,” the firmness of her reply made me feel a little better, “I mean, he can be pissed, but I don’t agree with what he did or said. He needs to respect your feelings, too.”

A lone tear dropped down my cheek, grateful for her presence in my life. “Thank you, Pay. Thank you for coming to find me.”

“Hey, you’ve saved my ass on too many occasions to count. I will always come and find you.” She linked her arm through mine as she hailed a cab. “Don’t worry, Murray will too. He probably just needs some time to cool off. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, that shit doesn’t go away because of an argument.”

I climbed into the back of the cab which had screeched to a halt by us, hoping, praying she was right. But she hadn’t seen his face before he’d stormed out.

Hurt, anger, betrayal.

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