Page 19 of Great Pretender
I shake my head, and my shoulders sag. “I don’t know. I feel numb, I guess, and a little disorientated. Just not myself.”
A wealth of concern fills her eyes. The same concern I’ve been grateful for in the time we’ve been friends. She was the only person I confided in when I went through all the trouble with Dad. I only told her because years ago she happened to share her own experiences about her parents who were both raging alcoholics. Her father died after a car accident that happened because he’d been drinking too much so she knows how serious alcoholism can be.
Although Dad has been sober for over a year and has sworn off gambling for the rest of his life, I feel like I’ve only just gotten over his debacle. Now we’re here again—me with more drama.
I glance to my left as one of the nurses walks by with some documents in her hand.
The good thing about the Center is the limited number of visitors around. It’s not even a fraction as busy as the rest of the hospital. That means space to talk and privacy that there are fewer walls with ears—less chance of gossip. I’m sure if these were the days of med school when I was rushing around the general side of the hospital, I’d be the talk of the floor with my never-ending stories.
“What happened after I left last night?” Elodie asks as the nurse disappears around the corner.
“I went to see Chad. He wants me to stay with him.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yeah.”
She looks as surprised as I felt last night when Chad made the offer. Honestly, though, I shouldn’t have been that surprised. It was a given that Chad would help in some way. I just didn’t expect that. And not after his scandal. I assumed Tiffany would be the new woman on his arm. It actually surprised me more that he didn’t sleep with her.
“So, you’re staying with him?”
“It looks that way. Just for a few days though. I’m gonna try and get as much as I can done here, then get the rest of my stuff out of Heath’s place tonight.”
“I’m so glad you don’t have to stay another night in that house. What happened yesterday was below the belt and assholish.”
“It was horrible, Elodie. I don’t want to be in that situation again where I’m so helpless and left feeling foolish.”
“I know, sweetie. I felt bad for you. I hate being placed in a situation where I can’t do anything to help. It’s not in my nature to stand by and watch.”
That sums her up quite well.
“I know. You just being there for me was a massive support.”
“I wish I could have done more, but it was clear that if I had, it might have made things worse. He was ready to take me on and hand me my ass.”
“I know. That’s what he’s like, and he doesn’t care who he’s talking to.”
“Forget that asshole. The sooner you can be rid of him, the better.” She purses her lips and gives me a sure nod.
“Yes. Absolutely the better.”
“Chad’s offer is interesting, though.” Mischief lurks in her eyes, replacing the concern she exuded moments before. It’s the same mischief that sparks whenever Chad comes by to see me or we start talking about him.
“You think?”
“Of course, I think so.”
The first time she met Chad and realized who he was, she couldn’t believe we were just friends. I’ve been working on and off at the Center with her for the last three years, and it’s taken that length of time to convince her that we really are just friends. I think I managed to convince her on some level, but the look she’s giving me now suggests she’s still thinking Chad and I could be more.
“Why? He was just being nice, Elodie. And seriously, after the whole newspaper fiasco, you think there could be something beneath his offer?”
“Yes, I absolutely do. Men like him have women fawning all over them all the time. Two guesses that nothing happened with that Tiffany airhead and her friend. It was all just drunken craziness.”
My God, she’s right. Well, according to what Chad said.
“Those types of guys don’t see what’s before them,” she chants. “They don’t see the women in their lives until it’s much further down the line, then they try to seize the opportunity in dribs and drabs.”
“I don’t think it’s like that with us.” I don’t, and I won’t go into details of adolescent flights of fancy with the stupid kiss.
