Chapter 3
If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.
—Winnie the Pooh
Drew
My dad shows up Friday around noon and we go to lunch, at one of the popular cafés downtown that’s full of college students and people on their lunch break from the nearby businesses.
It’s small and busy, and the tables are tiny and round.
Our knees bump against each other because we’re both tall, and it feels incredibly awkward.
I’m not saying much beyond small talk, because he’s the one with the major news.
Scratch that. I have major news, but I’m never going to drop that particular bomb on him now. It might scar him for life. Ruin our relationship forever.
I’m not taking that chance.
After the waitress brings us our lunch, he finally says something important.
“I filed divorce papers yesterday. Adele will be served sometime next week.”
I lift my head to meet his gaze and find him studying me pointedly. As if he’s got everything all figured out. For a moment, I’m afraid he does. But then he digs his fork into the salad he ordered along with his sandwich and eats. Just as though what he said really didn’t matter at all.
“Where is she?” I ask after I swallow. I can’t bring myself to say her name.
Fable would like that. If she had a chance, I know she’d scratch that bitch’s eyes out.
“She’s still at the house. I asked her to leave and she refused.” Dad wipes the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “Not quite sure what I’m going to do about that. I can’t kick her out—yet. She really has nowhere to go. And she was the mother of my child.”
Maybe. I swallow hard. “Where will you go?”
He shrugs. “I’m staying at a hotel for the moment. And she’ll trip herself up. I have a plan.”
My appetite leaves me. If this is going to be an ugly divorce and I’m somehow involved, I don’t think I can take it. “What’s your plan?”
His gaze is pointed again, directly aimed at me, and I want to squirm. “She’s having an affair. I know it, I can feel it, but I don’t have proof.”
My stomach churns. If this has anything to do with her and me, I don’t know what I’ll do. God, that was so long ago! No way could their current problems have anything to do with me. “Who do you think she’s messing around with?”
“That I’m not sure. It’s only been going on for a few months, but I know she’s involved with someone. And I don’t think this is the first time she’s done this sort of thing.”
Shit. My dad’s right. This isn’t the first time. And I haven’t been with her in years, so I’m sure I wasn’t her only. More like the first in a long string of guys. She thrives on attention. Needs it like we need oxygen to breathe.
“I’m sorry, Dad.” I am. I’m sorry that he has to go through this and deal with an evil, cheating, immoral bitch for a wife.
He has no idea of the damage she’s wrought to his family.
My dad’s oblivious. He definitely has his faults.
I know he’s not perfect—none of us are—but I wouldn’t wish this on him.
He chose her, though. Now he has to deal with the fallout of their dissolving marriage.
“Don’t be sorry.” My dad waves his hand, dismissing my worry with a flick of his fingers. “She’s a stupid bitch who finally ran out of options. Whoever she’s fucking, I think he works at the country club.”
She’s slumming. Great. Dad must love this.
“And I think he’s young,” he continues. “She’s dressing like she’s twenty and listening to music that would only appeal to a silly teenage girl.
I caught her working out in a Justin Bieber T-shirt a few weeks ago while listening to some boy band.
She’s too damn old to wear that sort of crap. What woman her age does that?”
I want to laugh, but I keep it to myself. I’m not laughing at my dad’s irritation. More like at her desperation and the fact that she seems to like them young. I can either laugh or go into a complete rage. She’s disgusting. “How do you know she’s having an affair?”
“I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I hired a private investigator. He’s tailing her now. Finding out all her juicy secrets. Bitch doesn’t stand a chance.”
Neither do I if he finds out the juicy secret I share with her. “I hope it doesn’t blow up in your face.”
“How could it? I’m not the one who’s done wrong here. She is. I’ve been faithful to her our entire marriage.”
My good friend guilt nestles in deep within me and I push my plate away. This is the last thing I want to hear. I’d almost prefer it if my dad admitted he’d cheated on Adele. “Really, Dad? You can be honest with me, you know. It’s not like I’m going to tell.”
“Really.” His expression is hard; his eyes, as blue as mine, are cold.
“I loved her. Deep down inside, I still do. But I have to wonder if she ever loved me. How long has she been unfaithful? Who else is involved? How deep do her lies go?” He shakes his head, his disgust clear.
“She’s wronged me. Made a fool of me in front of our friends.
For all I know, she’s been flaunting this boy toy of hers while I’m out of town working. I don’t know.”
“You talk like you want to get revenge on her.” I don’t know how to react. Don’t know what to say. His words fill me with fear. He could push her to admit things I never want her to confess. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen my dad like this.
“Maybe I do.” He laughs, but it’s an angry sound, as if torn from his throat. “Maybe I want to make her suffer. Make her look like a stupid slut. I gave her everything. When we first met, she was perfect. Beautiful, fun, thoughtful, and amazing in bed.”
I grimace. Last thing I want to hear. “Didn’t need to know that.”
“Come on, Drew. You’re an adult. That sort of comment shouldn’t bother you.” He studies me. “Now that I think of it, you haven’t mentioned your little girlfriend. Are you two still together?”
My entire body stiffens at the reminder of Fable. “We broke up.” Not really, but technically we were never together, so what else can I say?
“That’s a shame.” His words are completely insincere. “Not that I thought she was the sort of girl for you.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I growl, flexing my hands into fists.
“You know exactly what I mean. She’s the sort of girl you screw on the side, not the one you keep forever.”
I stand so fast I knock my chair into the person sitting behind me. My blood boiling, I glare at my father, but all I can see is red. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Fable is one of the best people I’ve ever known. She’s loyal, kind, sweet …”
Dad’s gaze meets mine, his eyes full of contempt. I’m making a scene and he doesn’t like it. I really couldn’t give a shit. “If she’s so great, why aren’t you with her?”
The truth falls from my lips with ease. “Because I’m not good enough for her.”
I leave the restaurant without another word.
Fable
“You look different.”
I smooth my hand over my newly colored hair, my freshly painted nails catching my eye.
They’re red, as bright as the color coating my lips, and I feel like a different person.
But I want to show indifference. As if this sort of thing is common for me.
That handsome men who just so happen to be my boss whisk me to a popular and expensive hair salon in the late afternoon without an appointment and pay for my complete makeover.
All the while he’s standing by with a satisfied grin on his face, as if he’s solely responsible for my transformation.
Which he sort of is.
I should be insulted. Colin taking me to the salon is basically saying I don’t look good enough to work for him. That I need to change—at least physically.
But secretly, it’s also flattering, his attention.
No one pays attention to me. They all just …
count on me to get stuff done. My mom, my brother, my old boss at La Salle’s—yep, I gave notice this morning, finally.
Drew paid attention for a little while, but he’s too wrapped up in his own problems to worry about mine.
I miss him. I hate that I miss him, but I do. Funny how someone can come into your life for such a brief time yet leave such a lasting impression. He permanently imprinted himself on my heart, and I permanently imprinted his name on my skin.
It’s silly, longing for a man who doesn’t long for me.
“Your hair—the blond is darker.” Jennifer smiles at me, nodding with approval. “I like it. Suits you better.”
Colin is a great boss, but he employs a bunch of bitches at his restaurant.
And I’m starting to realize why they’re so bitchy—we’re all in direct competition with one another, not only for being the most wanted waitress at The District, thus getting the most in tip money at the end of the evening, but also to be the most wanted waitress in Colin’s eyes.
Which is all sorts of fucked up if I think about it too long.
So I banish the realization from my brain, something I’m so good at.
Jennifer so far has been the nicest to me, but she was the new girl on the block until I showed up, so she’s probably thankful there’s a fresh target here for them to hate.
She’s pretty in an exotic, almost mysterious way, which I find amusing considering her standard, every-girl name.
She has long straight-as-paper black hair, large dark brown eyes, and olive-colored skin, and she’s so incredibly tall, I get a crick in my neck if I stare up at her for too long.
She’s everything I’m not. We’re complete opposites in every way.
“Did Colin take you to get your hair done?” she asks as we set the tables for the evening. I’m doling out the silverware, she’s setting out the freshly polished glasses, and I’m so startled by her question, I stand there with my mouth hanging open for a second. Long enough that she speaks again.