Page 62 of Pick-Up
“Is that right?” Stephanie cocks her head to the side. “Was that the same time? It feels like he’s been at the magazine forever, but I guess it hasn’t been that long.”
I am intrigued. And also clueless.
“Was what at the same time?”
“Oh, you know,” says Jackie. “The challenges. Which coincided with Ethan coming on as editor. And the running article.”
“Challenges?”
“Withher.”
Oh, now I’m getting it.
“That witch,” says Stephanie.
And now I’m really getting it.
“We probably shouldn’t…,” says Derek.
“And yet, we are,” says Stephanie. “She understands,” she continues, leaning in toward Charlie. “She’s divorced too.”
This she is me. And now all eyes are on her. Me.
“I am,” I say. “It’s true. Divorced as charged.” Jazz hands.
Derek raises his eyebrows. “I assumed you were married,” he blurts out. He looks relieved. Why does he look relieved? “Because of the kids. Sorry.”
“Oh. No. Well, I mean, I was married. And now I am happilyunmarried.”
I hate this. When people get awkward around thedword. It makes me want to say what my kids call “thefword.”
Despite the umbrella and the lovely breeze, it’s pretty hot at the height of the day. The sun is lording over the sky, threatening to scorch us. My thighs are suctioned to my seat.
And they’re all looking at me with sympathetic—yet curious—expressions. Except Stephanie. She is leaning in without apology.
“Was he an asshole too?” she says. “Your husband?”
“Too?”
“Like the nightmare Ethan divorced.”
Honestly, thank God for this woman. Filterless Stephanie. She just says the thing.
I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, right. Yes. Mine was an asshole too.Isan asshole. Continues to be. On an ongoing basis.”
Sometimes I make excuses for Cliff. I say things like, “He does what he can. He does his best. He’s a complicated person. He’s not a bad man.” Not today, Cliff. Not today.
Something about Stephanie is freeing me up.
She presses a manicured hand to my forearm. “Isn’t he some sort of bigwig screenwriter? About to direct some huge Ryan Reynolds project? I keep hearing about it.”
I am stunned out of my reverie. Someone has done her homework.
“What?” says Stephanie, as Derek shoots her a chiding look. “Am I the only one who googled her?”
Her is me again.
“He cheated on you also, right?”
