Page 50 of Beyond Oblivion

I smirked. “You know exactly why.”

“Her parents’ money, their country club membership at the most prestigious course in town, or he got tired of living in that hovel?”

“All three. Remember when you had to pay his way every time you went on a trip? Then he’d take pictures without you in them and post random beach photos to his social media as if he could afford a solo trip.Ew.He’s such a mooch. He surrounds himself with men who’ve actually done the work to make a name for themselves, taking pictures of himself riding in their private planes, impressing every conquest with a ride in their helicopters and weekends at their lake homes. He did it with every single one. He’s so unoriginal. It legitimately makes me cringe every time I see it.”

“I never told you, but around the time they started dating, Jason had started calling me again.”

“What?” I barked.

“I didn’t know… that they were dating. He made it sound like they were just friends. He’d found out I’d moved. For two months, he tried to meet up with me, wanting to know my address and pissed I wouldn’t tell him. He offered to drive out and meet up for drinks, for dinner, anything to see me.”

“All this time and you’ve never said a word! And you call yourself my best friend!”

“Because I don’t like thinking about him, much less talking about him. He was drunk every time he’d call, and he was calling me every night.”

“For two months? I’m surprised you didn’t block him.”

She shrugged. “It was entertaining, listening to him pout, whine, and beg.”

“Bullshit,” I said without hesitation. “That’s why you didn’t tell me, because you didn’t want to hear what you already knew.”

“Fine. You’re right. Some part of me hoped he’d changed, while also knowing he hadn’t.”

“But… you didn’t ask to work things out. I bet that bruised that gigantic ego of his. I’m proud of you.”

She waved me away. “Save it. I ran into him his birthday weekend.”

“Ran into him where? Here?”

“Yes, because if you’ll remember, his birthday is the day after—”

“Your mom’s! So, you were in town! Oh my God! Where was I?

“You were with Trent and Jim that night because Jim was sick.”

“You ran into Brazilthatnight? No wonder you didn’t tell me. We ended up taking the poor guy to the ER.”

“Focus, Cami. This is the part you’re going to lose all respect for me.”

“You didn’t.”

“I did,” she said, closing her eyes. “And during… you know… he whispered in my ear that he loved me.”

“Of course he did.”

“He begged me not to leave. He wanted me to spend the night, and I wish could say it was my idea, but Lacey had to get back. She was bored, stuck playing on her phone in the living area, so I left.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “After months of fending him off… I’m not disappointed in you. I’m disappointedforyou. Wow, Ray. I didn’t think I could hate him more than I already did.”

“Yeah, well… the life changing moment for me was the engagement and wedding. I just… I can’t explain it. … I was just relieved that it wasn’t me.”

“And then you met Wes.”

She grinned, peace and pure contentment washing over her face. “And then I met Wes.”

I grinned back. She deserved someone like Wes after surviving the worst heartbreak of her life. Wes was her reward for not giving up over a man who never deserved her in the first place… and knew it. Raegan had given so much of herself to Brazil, without getting much back. They had their problems, but Raegan’s worst crime was asking to be treated well, for him to stop talking to other girls, to stop making her question his loyalty, and wondering if he was truly invested.

Brazil gave up on Raegan because he knew she’d never allow him to get away with his bullshit, and although that never stopped him from stringing her along, all while making her look crazy to his friends and family, he ultimately settled down with a woman who expected less. “People talk. You were too much for him, so he went out and found himself less.”

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