Page 75 of Thanks for the Memories
“Don’t apologize. You needed to get it out. Do you feel better?”
I actually do feel better.
“Yes.” I take a few breaths. “I’m just trying to figure out how I became this awful villain to her. For some reason she wants to blame me for everything that’s wrong in her life.”
“It’s jealousy,” he says knowingly. “My mom has always said it’s the worst emotion. I had a friend in college who was always in direct competition with me. Sports, girls, you name it—it got to the point where we couldn’t be in the same room with each other.”
I wipe the corner of my eyes with my sweatshirt sleeve.
“I guess. I’m just disappointed because I had so much hope for this visit, and it started out so well.” I stop. I’m sure Jeremy doesn’t want to hear any more of my whining. “I’m sorry. You probably need to get ready for work. Thank you for listening to me blab on and on.”
“Anytime. I wish I could take the day off, but that place is barely surviving without you. Could you imagine what it would be like without me?”
“It would completely fall apart,” I say sarcastically.
“You know it,” he says. “Anyway, I’ll call you later, and don’t forget about our hot dinner date tomorrow night.”
“How could I forget,” I gush.
At least I have something to look forward to. Now that I’ve had my meltdown, I need to face the day and whatever it brings. I still have to respond to Dante’s texts. It was much easier to talk to Jeremy since he’s outside of the situation. Bethany has made it her mission to bring Dante into our issues. It almost feels like she used the one person she knew would get the biggest reaction out of me. It’s beyond calculating and manipulative.
When I finally get out of bed, my palms are sweating, and my heart is pounding. I’m not even sure if Bethany is still here.
Despite what she told Dante, I didn’t kick her out. I only suggested she find another place to stay tonight. Tomorrow she will be on a plane back to Chicago, and who knows what will happen after that. She claims she’s moving down here, but that remains to be seen. And after Lila hears what happened, she’ll probably make it her mission to convince Paul that Bethany is bad news. Lila is a loyal and generous friend, but I’d wouldn’t want to be on her bad side.
I tiptoe toward the guest room and notice that the door is still closed. It’s not even seven thirty in the morning, so I’d be shocked if she was up already. Hopefully, she was packing her bags while throwing me under the bus to Dante.
When I go to the kitchen, I find Gabby scrolling through her phone and eating a bowl of Lucky Charms.
“That looks like a nice, nutritious breakfast,” I say.
She smiles. “You know it. I was actually hoping there’d be some of your donuts left, but I guess we finished them off last night.”
I take a glass out of the cabinet and fill it with water.
“So, did all the yelling wake you up last night?” I whisper.
She chews and swallows the cereal in her mouth. “No. Who was yelling?”
I point toward the guest room.
“We had a huge fight,” I mouth.
I’m trying to be as quiet as possible because I’d rather not go for round two today.
“What?” Gabby mouths.
She motions for me to follow her out to the patio. As soon as we’re outside, the memories of Jeremy and me on the lounge chair fill my mind, sending a jolt through my body. Am I going to think of him every time I come out here? After last night, I certainly wouldn’t mind that. The thought makes me excited and hopeful about what’s yet to come.
“Tell me everything,” Gabby exclaims, dragging me out of my daydream. “I must’ve been completely passed out.”
I manage to give her all the sordid details without any tears. Reliving it this time around causes a feeling of anger to roar within me.
“I’m speechless,” Gabby says covering her mouth with her hand.
“I don’t know why she came here. I guess she wanted to flaunt her new look and money. Whatever it was, she was locked and loaded last night, ready to blame me for everything.”
“I can’t believe Bethany called Dante,” she exclaims. “I’m so sorry.”
