Page 39 of You Loved Me Once
“Ren started her clinical trial,” Jules says.
“You did?” The pride in his eyes is humbling. He’s almost like a second father to me.
I nod. “Yeah, Monday it really starts, but all the preliminary stuff is done,” I explain.
“Well,” he grins. “I’ll be damned. I knew you two were going to change the world the first time I saw you both.”
He’s so full of shit. We were two doe-eyed med students the first time we stumbled in here. I had moved back here to help with my mother, lost Bryce, and was trying desperately to pretend I was okay. I was drinking more than I should have, and sleeping with as many guys as I could to feel anything but my longing for Bryce.
“He lies.” Julie rolls her eyes.
“I do not.” Rich puts his hands on his hips. “I knew you two were going to do great things. Just took you both a little while to realize it.”
“I’m glad someone knew we were special,” I giggle.
“You’re special, all right,” Rich says with sarcasm. “What are you troublemakers drinking tonight?”
Julie and I look at each other and answer. “Vodka.”
After a few martinis, I’m pretty damn numb. I don’t care so much about all the shit in my life. Julie rests her head on the bar and spins her glass.
“Rem-member when we drank lots of these?” she stammers.
I laugh as my head drops back, causing hair to sway. It feels funny. “I ’member.”
My phone dings with a text.
“Ugh,” I groan. “Westin again.”
Westin: I don’t know where you are, but you said you’d be home by five. It’s late and I’m worried that you’re not okay.
Me: I’m fine. Just hanging with Jules.
Westin: Okay then.
“What does he want?” Julie asks.
“More.”
“More is less,” she giggles. “More is never happening with you.”
“More sucks,” I respond. “You know why you don’t give more? Because you give more and then they want more of more,” I ramble. “I’m tired of it. I won’t give nothing anymore.”
Julie lifts her head, slaps the wood, and straightens her back. “Yes. Give nothing because men don’t give us enough.”
“Yes!” I agree.
“I think you’re an idiot, though,” she shrugs.
Why am I an idiot? I’m the one who started this revolution of how stupid giving more is.
“What the hell?” I ask feeling miffed.
Julie raises her glass toward Rich, indicating we need more. “Because Westin is more than any of us will ever get.”
“Westin is not perfect.”
He has flaws and people need to understand that. I’m so tired of hearing how great he is because sometimes, he’s not. When he loses a patient, he’s a dick. When he can’t figure out a way to fix something, he’s awful. When he doesn’t get his way, he’s a big-ass baby.
