Page 78 of Choosing My Happiness
“No, he didn’t.”
I turned and stared at Shaquilla, who was looking into her mug.
“He was a creep, and I have no idea why Molly put up with the shit she did,” she said simply.
“He loved her.”
“He disrespected her any chance he got. He was an asshole.” Shaquilla rolled her eyes as she spoke.
A knock on the door interrupted us, and Shaquilla dealt with the delivery before coming back to her coffee on the counter.
“How did Matchstick disrespect Molly?” I demanded.
“By cheating on her.”
“He never cheated on her. Not even Daisy rode on his bike!” I hissed at her. How dare she accuse Matchstick of cheating.
Shaquilla rolled her eyes. “What’s his bike got to do with things?”
“You said he cheated!”
“Yeah, by sticking his dick in other women.” Her voice was getting louder.
“That’s not cheating.”
“Yes, Blaze, it is. Ask anyone.”
“No it isn’t, it’s a bit of fun on the side. It doesn’t mean anything.” I sneered.
Shaquilla went silent.
A few heartbeats pounded and she opened her mouth.
“It meanseverything.” Her voice was quiet, but deliberate. “It means that I’m not enough for my partner. That I’m broken, I’m pathetic, I’m useless…” She sighed. “I’m worthless.”
“You’re not worthless, Shaquilla,” I whispered.
Her eyes snapped to me, sharp and angry. “I know, because I refuse to put myself in a position where a man can do that to me. But think about this. How many times did you make Daisy feel that way?”
I felt my breath leave my body as if she’d punched me. Shaquilla watched my reaction dispassionately, then stood up and took my mug from me.
“Get out,” she told me.
“But—”
“Get out,” she snapped. “I don’t want to look at you again. You’re a selfish, inconsiderate rodent.” She stepped to the door and opened it.
“Out!” She didn’t even look at me as I moved past her. “You can pick Dylan up from childcare.”
I nodded, still shaking. Could I have made Daisy feel worthless?
55
Chapter 55: Daisy
I rubbed my eyes as I finally walked onto the ward for my last night of night shift. I was glad it was over. At least with day shifts, I could call Jim at night and talk with him. The timing of these shifts relegated our chats to voicemail and text messages. It wasn’t enough.
I stopped at the desk and looked over the list of patients we had tonight.
