Page 121 of Inflame

I glance around the huge room and am already in love with what has been done. Everything in the room is of the primary colors of red, blue, yellow, and green. Huge frames adorn the wall, just waiting for some photos or art to be placed behind the glass. A huge U-shaped table is situated with a projector screen in the opening, allowing for discussions. Lines are clean and neat. The computers are of top-notch value and the sleek monitor screens continue with the modern theme.

“I love it. Wow. Just wow,” I say, clapping my hands together once. “It actually feels like we could do amazing things in this space. How in the world did you get this all put together so quickly?”

“Can you tell I am desperate for something to do with my life?” she teases. “I thought binge watching TV and online shopping would be entertaining, but I was getting bored out of my mind just waiting for Graham to come home from work.”

“Oh, I get it. There’s only so much stimulation I can get out of working at a gym. It gets to be so redundant after a while.” I walk through the space and check out the items Angie picked out.

“When I’m motivated to do something—anything—with my life, I get a bit obsessed,” she says defensively. “It also helps that my fiancé is the freaking owner of this building and gave me no limit on the budget when it came to the start-up aspect.”

“Ha.” I exhale. “That is definitely a perk.”

Angie tugs my hand and pulls me to the lounge area with huge sectional sofas, all in a gorgeous blue shade. “I hope you didn’t mind me going ahead and taking care of some of the setup. I know you planned so much for the Vegas trip that I thought your mind would need a break.”

That’s the thing with Angie—she is always so thoughtful and attuned to everyone else’s feelings. She is the best kind of best friend.

I kick off my heels and put my feet up on the cushions. “I haven’t been in the best of states lately, so you taking over this aspect is very much appreciated.”

She grabs her iced coffee from the end table and takes a sip. Then she curls her feet under her butt. “Yeah?”

“Yup. And I wasn’t my best self last night at dinner when I ran into Ethan unexpectedly. Things have beensonot good between us and we are, without any doubt, over.”

Her eyes fill with concern. “That bad?”

My teeth graze my bottom lip as I debate on whether to even share my dirty laundry. With a wedding date approaching, I don’t need to weigh her down with this crazy drama.

“Claire?”

I look over at her. “Hmm?”

“No matter what is going on in my own life, I’m never too busy for you. I am here for you always. Please don’t start holding back.”

I nod. She is right, and I’ve definitely been holding back. “So, I got asked to leave the restaurant.” My voice sounds so sad, even to me. It lacks the bubbly timbre that usually accompanies my words.

“Was he alone?”

I shake my head. “Nope. He was with some colleagues, I assume. And his ex-wife, Deena. He has been lying to me for months or maybe even the entire time. I think he was using the escort agency to date me as a way of getting back at her. Or a way to make her jealous. It all kind of makes sense in a way, because the first time I met him, it was to meet her and her new boyfriend.” I shrug, looking off into the office space, as I think back to the defining moments in our relationship. “So, yeah, Ethan and Deena are engaged again. And he has other residences other than the ratty fuck pad apartment I was in.”

“What?” she snarls. “What a bastard! He sure put up a good front when he would visit our townhouse during college.”

“Most narcissists are amazing actors. He sure fooled me.”

“I’m sorry, Claire. You deserve so much better.”

“He made me feel so cheap in that moment. As if my feelings don’t matter. He knew I liked him more than a quick thrill. But then he started gaslighting me and emotionally abusing me. And I don’t understand why. What did I do to make him turn like that?” A sob breaks out of my throat and Angie holds my hand while I let out all of the tears I’ve been trying to keep from her.

“Claire, you listen to me. Because I want to make myself very clear.” Her eyes level with mine. “There is no reason for the abuse. Because if there was an actual reason, it would just be an excuse to put the blame on you. And there isn’t anything you did wrong. This is on him. And it doesn’t matter whatever he tells himself just so he can sleep easy at night. Because abuse is wrong, no matter what.”

Tears cascade down my cheeks, and I wipe angrily at them. I feel like I have wasted a chunk of my life working toward a future that was impossible of ever becoming a reality. I am exhausted from putting forth more effort than the guy I invested my time on. “I never want to see him again. Ever.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

Angie leans over and wraps me up in her arms. “Good. He doesn’t deserve you, sweetie. But I have to know…what got you kicked out of the restaurant?”

“I may have thrown a drink in his face.”

“Better than a fist,” she snickers.

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