Page 104 of The Lessons

I’d finally made it to the end of the week, and I was looking forward to relaxing with a bottle of Pinot Noir and streamingGuardians of the Galaxybecause I couldn’t watch anything heavier right now. I was still crying at the drop of a hat; I’d even had to excuse myself from a screening of our newest commercial today because the music was too pretty, and it made my tear ducts well up.

In actuality, the music was fucking lame as hell, and I sent Cathy an email to that effect afterwards, once I’d gathered myself.

Later, at home, I called Josh. I knew it was a long shot, given that it was Friday and all, but I needed to hear a familiar voice even if it was just his voicemail recording. I was shocked when he picked up on the third ring.

“LeeLee! Babycakes, how are you?”

“Hey Joshie,” I started, my voice much weaker than I’d hoped. I cringed inwardly. Maybe Ryan was right. I mean, Josh was supposed to be my best friend, and even though I’d known him forever, I was still keeping him at arm’s length.

“What are you doing calling me on a Friday night? Why aren’t you out living it up in the best city in the world?”

His enthusiasm made me smile for the first time in days. “One could ask you the same thing.”

“Ha, well, I would be out if it wasn’t for this case. I’ve been stuck in the office until ten every night this week.”

“Oh, that sucks. Is it the case you came out here for?”

“Yep, one and the same. You know what being a lawyer has taught me? Never get married. Divorce is too intense. It makes people crazy, Natalie,crazy. The client had his car windows bashed in today by his ex.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. On hisBugatti. Can you believe that?”

“Yeah, never getting married is probably good advice,” I muttered, resignation rearing its ugly head.

“LeeLee, I’mkidding. You aren’t supposed to agree so fast. You’re the one who is supposed to tell me that I’m wrong and that my Mr. Perfect is out there, waiting for me, and that one day, we’ll see each other across a crowded dance floor, lock eyes, and live happily ever after.”

I blew a raspberry. I wasn’t exactly sure how to talk about this with him. With anyone, actually. How do you casually mention that your hopes and dreams have come crashing down around you?

“What’s the matter, Natalie? You sound all dejected. Everything okay?”

I sat up straighter and tried to rally myself. “Yeah, I’m good. Things are good. I aced my presentation the other day,” I said, trying to feign excitement.

“And…?”

“And what?”

“And…how’s the love life? I worry about you, LeeLee…over there, all by yourself. How’s Brad? How’s Hottie Motor-cotti?”

“Ugh. That’s not happening.”

“LeeLee!”

“No, really, it’s okay. I just…I just wasn’t that into him, Josh. Besides, he got a job with MM Social and is moving to L.A.”

“And?”

“And…that’s all she wrote.”

“Stop obfuscating, Reese.”

“They making you read the thesaurus over there at S&A?”

“Hush, you. So, nothing developing with you and motorcycle man?”

“You mean Ryan? No.” I sighed. “He was kind of an ass.”

“Kind of an ass? What do you mean?”

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