Page 13 of You Found Me
Lying to all of them has taken its toll on me.
I’m not this person. I didn’t used to hide things from the people I love, being with Chance has changed that. He tolerated my friends the few times they came to visit, only to talk shit about them once they left.
But because I love—loved—him, I never said anything.
And I’m realizing just how terrible of a friend I’ve been. I don’t have a clue what’s been going on in any of their lives other than what’s easily picked up from socials and the few times we’ve used the group chat.
I’m shaken out of my thoughts from a knock on my door. Unsure of who it could be since I have the “do not disturb” placard on the knob, I peer through the peephole only to see Colette and Mia. I watch Mia knock again before hearing her, “We know you’re in there Emmaline Grace Jones. Just let us in. We come bearing treats.”
I open the door and fight the urge to cry. “How did y’all know I was in town?”
Colette is the one to answer, “Piper’s been working here part time for the last few months and noticed a guest with the name Amy March. When she clicked on it, she saw your name was on the credit card on file.”
That’s the name she went with?
“I’m sorry I didn’t let you guys know I was in town. I just—” I choke on a sob, unable to continue.
“Em, what’s going on? It’s not like you to come to town without telling us,” Lettie says. “But what’s most concerning is that you’re crying. We’re always here for you, you know that right?”
I take a deep breath, and tell them to come in. I head to the bed, sitting with my back against the headboard, and a pillow cuddled to my chest. “Chance has been cheating on me.”
“What?”
“With who?”
Their gasps of outrage overlap, and I take a deep breath, wiping away some of my tears before continuing.
“I went home from work early on Wednesday morning—I’m pretty sure I caught your flu, Colette—and found clothes strewn all over the apartment floor. I didn’t think anything of it since he’s kind of a slob . . . until I saw a lace bra a few sizes too big. Then I heard moans coming from our room and,” I pause, unable to stop reliving it as the aggressive grunts and moans fill my head, “and then I left.”
“Why didn’t you bust into your bedroom and cause a scene?” Mia asks in outrage. “You guys have been together for years! You're engaged! What a fucking asshole!”
Colette grabs my hand. “I’m so sorry, Em.”
“Can I go slash his tires? Oooh! Or dump glitter on everything he owns?” Mia’s practically vibrating as she lists off all the destruction she wants to cause. It’s very on brand for her to go straight to revenge, which causes me to chuckle.
“Calm down, crazy lady,” Colette says sternly. “You know that’s not her style.” She looks back at me. “It’s awful that this happened. You deserve so much more than all of the shit he’s put you through recently, and you absolutely don’t deserve to be cheated on. Are you going to call off the engagement?”
“We haven’t been in a good place since the engagement. I’ve felt like he regretted proposing the moment I said yes. I’ve been trying to do everything I can to get us back to how we once were. Meanwhile, he’s been in a great ‘relationship,’ and it sounds like it’s happened more than a few times. And I—I do love him, but I don’t think I can stay with someone who clearly thinks so little of me.”
Lettie nods, and says, “It’s for the best that you found out about this now instead of down the road when it would be harder to leave.”
I breathe through my nose. “You’re right. It’s embarrassing now but I’m not sure I’d be able to recover if I’d found out about this after the wedding.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, you know I will. And if you need a place to stay, I have the space.” Colette’s hand rubs soothing circles on my leg, grounding me.
Colette has one of the biggest hearts out of all of us. I know that she recently became a certified foster parent, which is why I decline her offer. “I appreciate it, but you could get a call to foster any day now, and you need to have the extra bedrooms open. I’ll go stay with my parents once I get up the courage to let them know.”
“Oooh,” Mia pipes in excitedly, “if you can’t handle being back in your childhood bedroom or living with your parents again,you can always move in with me. I think it would be so much fun to be roommates again!”
Fun is one word for it.Chaoticis the one I would choose.
We were roommates in college all four years. Since we were in the dorms our first year, all I had to deal with was how messy she was. Then came sophomore year in the campus apartments. At least then the mess was contained to her room so that wasn’t an issue, but I’d wake up or come home and the common areas would be completely rearranged.
“I’ll let you know. I think I just need to be home for a little while.” We talk a little bit more before the exhaustion hits me. “I love you both but I’m going to have to call it a night.”
They both hug me, not caring that I’m sick. I watch as the door closes behind them.
While the weight of Chance’s infidelity has lessened after speaking with my girls, a new weight has settled in my gut.
