Page 8 of Great Pretender
“Like shit.”
“Baby, why didn't you tell me all this was going on? Catching your boyfriend cheating on you is not something you should have dealt with on your own.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Her shoulders slump. “I didn’t want you to remind me how right you were about him. But you were absolutely right. I shouldn’t have moved in with him.”
“Piper, I’m the last person to say I told you so or give advice. It’s just that I was worried about you. There was something off about Heath, something I didn't like.”
“And behold how correct you were. Now I can add him to the host of boyfriends past and present who screwed with me.”
She’s right, so I won’t talk about previous boyfriends. They were all jerks. Heath was definitely the worst of the bunch, though.
“Don’t think like that.”
She takes another sip of the drink and gives me a smile without humor. “Really, Chad? I sure know how to pick ‘em. I just thought Heath was different. We were together for four years—my longest relationship. He was sleeping with his secretary, but who else did he sleep with? I’m certain she wouldn’t have been the only person. I don’t even know how long it had been going on.”
Her eyes well up with tears, and I feel guilty again for my prior thoughts and the jealousy that rips into me the way it did last night as Curtis mouthed off about shit. The thing was, it wasn’t all shit because Piper loved Heath.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I mutter, reaching over to tap her hand. It’s so small against mine.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I really don’t need the stress of moving right now. I mean, of course, I was going to leave, given the circumstances, but having two weeks hanging over my head just makes me feel worse. Like I’m the one who did something wrong.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t let that prick make you feel like you were in the wrong when he was the asshole. Come on, Piper.”
“I know. But realistically, I was stupid to trust him. When he bought the house, I should have thought about myself in terms of ownership. I just took it for granted that he bought it outright because I’d just started my residency, and I wouldn’t have been earning enough yet. I never thought this would happen.” She sniffles like she’s going to cry again.
“You still love him?” I don’t know why I ask this. It’s foolish and possibly insensitive.
A pang of something I’ll confess is jealousy tugs at me when I fully believe she’s going to say yes. The seconds that pass as I watch her set the mug down on the nightstand and pull her knees into her chest again feel like lifetimes.
“No,” she finally whispers to my surprise, and her gaze drops to the silky sheet gathered at her feet. “And that’s why I’m the fool. I stopped loving him a long time ago. He didn’t feel like he was right for me, yet I stayed because we were living together. Dad liked him.”
I’m sure he did. Close as our families were, I knew her father wasn’t overly fond of our friendship. I can’t say I blame the guy since he saw the stunts I used to get up to when I was a kid.
He was my old math teacher back in high school and didn’t give me a pass just because his wife was best friends with my mother. My family’s wealth never fazed him either.
“Was that what’s been going on with you?” I ask.
She lifts her head and narrows her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Something’s been up with you for a while. I couldn’t figure it out. I never guessed it was Heath. I thought it was the pressure at work, although I know you like working with Elodie. I somehow thought it might not be that either, and you’d tell me when you were ready.”
When her eyes dart away from mine, something tells me that it was a different problem—something that wasn’t about Heath.
“Yeah,” she says with a little nod. It’s a lie.
I always know when she’s lying. I don’t know why she would feel the need to lie to me, but I won’t call her out on it. Now’s not the time to prod and press her for intel she clearly doesn’t want to share.
“I guess the pressure was on at the hospital. I’m at the stage in my residency where I’m finally doing research. Being at the research center is a dream, and I worked hard to get there. It’s been a long road.”
“I think you should move in with me,” I suggest, and her eyes widen.
“Chad, sweet as that is, I can’t move in here.” She laughs like moving in with me is the most absurd idea in the world.
My brows knit together. “Why the hell not? It makes perfect sense. I have plenty of space. I have more space than I can manage.”
“I know.”
“Then stay, you can’t exactly go and live with your dad.”
