Page 120 of Touch Me

I choke back a sob, wipe the tears from my face with both sleeves, and move to the block button. I hit it with finality.

Lesson learned.

THIRTY-FIVE

I MISS YOUR STIR FRY

There are somany butterflies in my stomach I can feel their delicate wings flapping a mile a minute. Pulling out my tube of lip gloss, I do a last minute touch-up and fluff my wavy hair one more time. I pull back to use the full length of the mirror and smooth down the edges of my little black dress and check my appearance, blowing a breath out through puffed cheeks.

I can do this.

I made it. It was a rough road the last month, but I made it. I split my time between staying at Ally’s house to crashing at Ashley’s place and going into the office to work and finalize plans for the opening. Once the details were all squared away, I could finally breathe. And think.

The craziness of planning kept my mind busy and once that was over, thoughts of Jace started to creep back in. One minute I’m fine, the next it feels like my chest is split wide open and my heart is bleeding out. I started running every day. That’s one thing Jace was right about. Enough exercise will fatigue your body and your mind.

So that’s where I’m at. I get up and tackle every day like it’s my first day of freedom. Because that’s exactly what it feels like. I start each day fresh and healed and by the time night falls, the scars rip open again. But I continue to get up, hoping this will be the day that ends with me just beingokay. And if I were to pick any day to bet on, it would be today.

Chloe said she would be here a half an hour before the show starts to go over my interview questions for Stella, who’s already here. We met briefly to introduce ourselves and agreed to meet later for the interview. I leave the powder room in the staff space and go to meet Chloe in the lobby.

She walks in and checks her coat, looking every bit the beautiful pixie in a shimmery, pale pink halter dress that ends just above her knees. Paired with nude heels, she looks gorgeous. I walk up to her, hands clasped under my chin.

She tilts her head and looks at me like a proud mother. “Would you relax, you’re going to be fine.” I don’t know that I would be here if it weren’t for her support over the last month.

When I told the others about what Mark had done, we went straight to Chloe. She was reluctant at first, shocked at my accusations. Probably because she was sleeping with him, but she was unbiased in her investigation, and when she found the proof we needed, she didn’t hesitate to take it all the way to the top and get him fired, and dump him. She even told me she had to get a restraining order because he started calling and texting her non-stop. And when she stopped replying, he started threatening her.

It was a bad day to be Mark.

After that, the two of us then went into repair mode. We wiped every advertisement with Jace’s name on it and went all over town replacing the old flyers with the new ones. We cold called our asses off to replace the spot Jace had taken up in the gallery with another unknown artist who would fit the theme. He only had one piece that was commissioned for the gallery, but we wanted another local artist on the docket with Stella and thank goodness we found one.

We spent a lot of time together, and she apologized over and over, like her being involved with him in any way made her guilty by association. I assured her there were no hard feelings and we sort of became friends.

“I know, I know. I’m just nervous.”

She loops her arm through mine and guides me back toward the showroom. “Do you have your questions written down?”

“Yep, they’re right here... oh no. I left my clutch in the back. I’ll just run and—”

“You fucking bitch.” We turn to see Mark staggering through the entryway toward us—his hair is a mess, clothes disheveled, and it looks like he hasn’t shaved in weeks. “Well, aren't you two cute? You can put fancy dresses and makeup on, but it won’t change the fact that you’re both stupid whores.”

I feel Chloe’s grip tighten on my arm. “Mark, you shouldn’t be here.”

He nearly trips over his feet, shuffling closer and closer. “Wrong!” His voice echoing in the empty space. “I did this.” He spreads his arms wide and tries to spin in place but stumbles and catches himself on his hands and knees before his face can hit the tile floor. He rights himself and comes toward us again. “I did all of this.” He jabs a finger into his own chest. “It was all set up by me. You don’t get to swoop in and take all the credit.”

Security must’ve heard the commotion, because two men came flying out of the coat room and flank his sides. He tries to break free but stumbles and they literally drag him to the door.

“You wouldn’t evenbehere if it weren’t for me! Don’t you forget that!”

Just as the doors are swinging shut behind Mark, my tribe walks in. Ally, Ella, Ashley, Jen, Alex, and yes, even Jess. She eventually tracked me down at my sister’s apartment and begged for my forgiveness. I gave in on the grounds that she wouldn’t push me to get back with Jace. That chapter was over and if she could accept that, we had no issues.

Now my tribes are united and we are one big happy family. They stare out the front doors as Mark is escorted to an SUV with the security company’s name on it. They exchange puzzled looks and Ashley gives him two middle fingers. The group dissolves into hysterics.

I squeeze Chloe’s hand and turn to her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, of course. Go.” She nods toward the group. “I’m fine.”

“Thanks. See ya in a bit.”

“Meet me in the show room in a few minutes to go over the pieces.”

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