Page 63 of New Girl in the City
The second the door closed, Claudia was turning to me with a panicked face. “I’m sorry, Mel. I’m so sorry. I was kidding about Liam. I didn’t think she would be there. I can’t believe she would say that. I am so fucking sorry.”
I nodded and looked at her. “It’s okay, Claudia.”
“But still---that scene was horrendous and after everything you’ve done for her and just…” she broke off and shook her head, “you are not. I mean, what you’re doing isn’t wrong.”
I gave her a water smile. “Yeah.”
“You know it isn’t. Don’t let what she said get in your head. God, why was I joking like that?”
“Because we’re friends and because that’s just…” I waved a hand, suddenly feeling tired, “that’s just the way we are. You didn’t know she was going to be there, and neither did I. Okay, maybe we shouldn’t have been joking, but it is after hours here. And normally people don’t jump to conclusions that fast. I’m just going to chalk that up to one of those things.”
Claudia groaned, hands going to cover her face. “Yeah, it just royally sucks.”
“Life’s like that,” I told her as we exited the elevator and made for the doors. I needed to get out of the building, and I needed to do it now.
“Hey, have a good night. Don’t think about what she said. It’s not true.” Claudia raised a hand to me in farewell and I hesitated. We were standing in front of the doors. She would go left and out the parking garage and I would go forward and out to meet Liam, but we held each other’s eyes. Claudia continued speaking, “Promise me that you won’t. Promise me that you’re going to go over to your boyfriend and you’re going to fuck his brains out and have a great time. And not think that you’re likehim.”
My eyes squeezed shut and I sighed. “Yeah, okay,” I said, though we both noticed I didn’t promise.
I didn’t like to break my promises.
