Page 11 of The Wrong One

“California,” I replied. “I went to school out there and then got a job right away.”

“What do you do?” Caroline asked.

I laughed. “At the moment, nothing. I do nothing.”

“She is in between jobs,” Emmy said.

“I was working in micro-medical engineering,” I answered.

Caroline looked at me. “What?”

“Basically, I helped advance technology in the medical field,” I explained. “I helped create a little device that automatically administered insulin. It’s still in testing, but stuff like that.”

“Damn, so, you’re smart?” Caroline asked with a laugh.

I laughed. “Maybe a little.”

“That sounds like a good job,” Julia said. “Why’d you leave?”

Emmy and I exchanged a look. “Long story, but it involved a man,” I said.

“Oh, those are my favorite kinds of stories!” Caroline laughed. “Was he an asshole? Or did he move with you?”

“Oh no,” I shook my head. “He’s still in California. With his girlfriend.”

“Uh-oh,” Julia said and looked at Caroline.

“She was engaged to the louse,” Emmy said.

Caroline groaned. “And he cheated.”

I nodded. “He cheated.”

“Fuck him,” Caroline said. “Trust me, you’re better off without him. I went through the same thing. I ended up with a great dude. You have to shed the dead weight. There are pieces of shit everywhere but there are also a few good ones. I know it stings and you probably want to wallow, but don’t. Just be glad he’s out of your life.”

“Thanks.” I smiled. “It’s hard.”

“It is, but it’s so much better once you look ahead and don’t look behind. Start doing an inventory about all the good things that are going to happen now that you don’t have him.”

“That’s a little hard to see right now,” I confessed.

“Don’t let him win,” Caroline said with total seriousness. “Do not give him the satisfaction of crushing your soul. It’s a goodbye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. You can cry, but trust me, you don’t want it to get you down. Just keep rolling forward.”

I appreciated her words but it was certainly easier said than done. I couldn’t quite figure out how to move forward. I was stuck in quicksand. I did hurt. I was sad. I hated that I had been thrown off course. All the progress I made was gone. Now, I was stuck in limbo.

“Thank you,” I said.

“We need alcohol!” Caroline called out.

Lena came out with a large tray. “Oh, those look good,” Emmy gushed.

“These are lobster rolls with our special blend of seasonings,” Lena said. “Let me know what you think and be brutally honest. I can take it.”

Her sister Julia brought out a bottle of wine. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the label. It was not what I expected. “This is a new wine we’re thinking about serving for those customers who want more than a draft beer or whiskey. You guys will have to tell us what you think. The seller is based in California. They’re offering us a pretty good deal. Before we sign up for anything, we want to make sure it’s decent stuff.”

I couldn’t stop staring at the label. I felt myself tumbling down a rabbit hole. It all got very dark as I was thrust into another memory.

The pianist was playing a touching piece that moved my very soul. Patrick sat across from me wearing one of his expensive suits and looking ridiculously handsome. The restaurant was very, very nice. The kind of place that didn’t have prices on the menu.

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