Page 17 of Never the Best

My hands shook, and I breathed slowly, remembering the tips and tricks I had in my emotional stability toolbox. I focused on what I knew deep down: that Josie’s body had nothing to do with mine, that Rhett’s choices didn’t define my value. I was stronger than my old insecurities, and I wouldn't let them claw their way back into my psyche.

"As you know, Josie and I grew up together, and it's wonderful to see so many of our friends from childhood."

I raised my eyes and found him looking at me all the way across the ballroom.

"I thank each one of you for coming tonight. I hope that after dinner, we can catch up with a drink—and talk about days past, bring up the good memories, make amends where needed."

Josie looked at him squarely and tilted her chin as if asking him to say what she wanted him to.

Rhett cleared his throat. "I'm a fortunate man to be engaged to this beautiful and wonderful woman." He slid an arm around Josie and looked into her eyes.

She went on tiptoe and kissed him.

The crowd clapped.

I blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Your body is not the problem, Pearl. It’s the story you’vetold yourself—the story Rhett’s words planted in your mind,"I could hear my therapist’s voice pulling me back from the edge. "But your life isn’t about Rhett. It never was. You’re good enough, and that has nothing to do with him. You don’t have to measure up to him, to them, or to anyone else. You’re brave. You’re free. You’re Pearl Beaumont, and you are a warrior."

I took a deep, shaky breath, forcing myself to straighten my posture.

I wasn’t that girl by the pool anymore. I wasn’t the joke, the bet, the girl who needed someone else’s approval to feel whole.

I was ready to escape after the speeches because I’d had enough. I was walking out of the restroom when I bumped into Sage. I sighed. This evening wasnotgetting better.

Sage smiled at me eagerly. “Pearl, it’s so nice to see you.”

My patience was thin, my nerves frayed. “Can we cut the crap, yeah? We’re alone here, and no one can hear you, so you don’t have to pretend that?—”

“I’m so sorry,” she blurted out, speaking over me. “I was horrible to you. It has…it has haunted me. Rhett, too. I am really sorry, Pearl.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and I took a step back, away from her. “What game are you playing?” I didn’t trust this woman, not at all.

She looked at me sadly. “I’m not. I swear.” She jerked her head to a door that led outside, where several guests were spread out. “Please, can I have a few minutes of your time?”

She looked so sincere and devastated that I didn’t have the heart to turn her down. I nodded. We stepped outsideand found a quiet corner with tables and chairs. We sat at one.

Sage rubbed her hands together. She looked good, like she always had. She never had to worry about her weight. She also looked older—more than I did, in fact.

“You know I got married,” she began, “to a guy who was supposed to beperfect, he came with the Savannah society stamp of approval.”

I folded my arms and leaned back. She wanted to talk, I’d let her.

“The marriage was a disaster. We were toxic. We fought. We threw things at each other. We…were physically abusive.”

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” I put a hand on her shoulder, hating that anyone had to experience physical abuse.

“Webothwere. Though he was stronger than me,” Sage said, and then tears started to flow down her cheeks. “Even now, you want to comfort me? What I said to you and about you, Pearl, you should be applauding that terrible things happened to me because I definitely deserved it.”

I pulled my hand away from her and frowned. “No one deserves that. And how would my enjoying your tragedy improve my situation?”

Sage plucked a napkin from the holder on the table and wiped her eyes. “But even before that, Rhett and I…after what happened with you, we changed. I?—”

“Sage, you were the one who told the girls on the debate team about what Rhett did,” I reminded her.

Look, I was all about people apologizing, if that was their jam, but no way was she rewriting history.

“Yes,” she admitted. “It was like, I’d already screwed up so go for bust.” She shook her head in self-disgust. “But I grew up. So did Rhett.”

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