Page 76 of The One I Love
The man sold cars.
A week later I told him I was leaving.
And I did, just not the way I thought it would go down. I’m not going into that story. What I’ve said is enough for one day.
“Well, I’m just glad you got out,” Kendra says.
“Same. I can’t imagine still being with him. Then again, I got Luke and Mariah out of it, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
“I get that,” Betsy says. “Especially now when you see what it’s like to be with a man who puts a permanent smile on your face.”
I feel my smile growing, because she’s right. “Yes, that does help. But no matter what, I’m better for being away from him.It took me a while to get here. But all that matters is that I’m here.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
I hold up my empty glass. “I would if I could.”
“Oh! What kind of hostess am I!” Betsy gets up and grabs the pitcher of sangria, filling me right up.
“Thank you,” I say. “And thank you for this. I’ve never really had a lot of girlfriends.”
“Hey!” Kendra yells. “I’m right here!”
“I said friends. As in plural.” Kendra harrumphs. “All I’m saying is, I never felt comfortable talking to people about this. But now? With the three of you…”
Shit, why am I crying?
“All I’m saying is that I’m grateful that you women are in my life.”
“Oh, girl!” Kendra hugs me so tight I might burst. “I’m so glad I’m in your life now. And that you’re happy. And getting good dick.”
“Amen!” Betsy yells.
I laugh. “Y’all are ridiculous.”
“Yeah, we are. But you love us.”
I tip my glass to Betsy. “That I do.”
Chapter 23
Shane
“Porter!Get me a whiskey neat, a basket of wings, and make sure to put everything on this motherfucker’s tab.”
Porter nods. “You got it, Simon.”
“I already said I was buying,” Wes said. “It’s the least I can do for thehardmanual labor I made you do today.”
I can’t keep in my laugh at Wes’s sarcasm.
“What are you laughing at?” Simon asks. “We worked hard.”
“We did,” I say, pointing to Wes and I. “You, though…I don’t know if supervising the bounce house crew really constitutes working.”
“Those men were putting in place an apparatus that will entertain my goddaughter and her friends,” Simon says. “I needed to make sure it was up to snuff. And, did you forget that I helped put out the tables? That was hard.”
Wes shakes his head. “I’m sorry I made you sweat.”
