Page 91 of The One I Need
My breathing is heavy, but I feel good. Strong. Right there is just the tip of the iceberg that I’ve been wanting to get off my chest for so long.
“I swear, Elizabeth, you’ve always been so dramatic.”
“Dramatic? That’s what we’re going with?”
“Yes, dramatic. It wasn’t that bad. You’ve blown it out of proportion. Plus, you know we needed his family to save the business.”
I throw my hands up in the air, completely exasperated by this conversation. “Of course. Always the business! Never mind that this man hurt me deeply. Never mind that two of the closest people in my life betrayed me. Never mind what he put me through mentally and emotionally. No, just worry about the business, Mom. The business that is so stressful it’s probably why Dad died. The business that you think is the end all be all of your life. The business you pimped your own daughter out for. Yes, Mom, that should be your priority. Not your daughter. Never your daughter.”
Mom doesn’t say another word, instead turning on her heel and walking back into the house. Jessie follows her, but not without mouthing a “holy shit” to me before she walks in.
I try to slow down my breathing as I turn toward the yard where Oliver is standing, just staring at me with…is that a look of pride?
“That’s my girl.”
I feel the biggest smile I think I’ve ever had on my face, only for it to be taken away by two words that I never wanted to hear for the rest of my life.
“Hey, Red.”
I slowly turn around as I come face to face with the man who ruined my life in more ways than I can count. And he’s standing next to Riley, my former best friend and would-have-been maid of honor and their fifteen-year-old son.
None of us say anything for I don’t know how long. Eventually, Riley awkwardly waves to me as she leads their son into my childhood home. I wonder if she remembers where everything is. She should. She spent enough time here growing up.
“How many years has it been?”
“Not enough.”
Matt takes a step toward me, which immediately means I take a step away.
“Oh, come on, Red. After all these years, you can’t be near me?”
I do my best to tamp down my anger. For the sake of not causing more of a distraction than I already have, I need to get away from him and get the fuck out of here.
“I’d rather not.”
“Oh come on,” he says, putting his hand on my arm. “That was a lifetime ago. We’re different people now.”
I try to rip my arm away from him, but he only holds on tighter. Panic starts to flood through me, but I do my best to push through. “It could be a hundred years and you’d never change.”
“I’m not like this with Riley, it must be you who makes me this way.”
Before I can reply, I feel Oliver pull me back from Matt as he inserts himself between us.
“I think it’s time that you step away from my wife.”
“Your wife?” Matt says with a snarky laugh. “You married her? You know she’s damaged goods, right?”
Oliver starts to pull back his fist, but I grab it to make sure she doesn’t swing. “For fuck’s sake…”
This gets Oliver’s attention. He slowly lowers his arm, quickly taking my hand in his as we walk away.
“That’s right! Run!” Matt says as we exit the porch to head back to our car. “That’s what you're good at.”
I stop and turn to look at the man I once thought was going to be my whole life.
“Then you do what you’re good at. Go fuck yourself.”
Chapter31
