23
Elvira
"IT WASN'T ME THIS time," Jess declared when she saw me in the break room. Her pink and white pleated skirt floated about her as she waltzed in. The orange silk blouse clashed with the skirt in a way that would have been comical on anyone besides her.
"I know. It was Thompson. Or at least I think it was. He's friends with the editor. That's what Levi thinks."
Jess took out a tea bag from the glass jar with TEA written on it and threw it in her mug. "Levi, huh? I heard you're living at his place now."
"How did you know that?" I hadn't told Jess about my apartment being unlivable at the moment. She wasn't around, busy doing interviews and looking for a position at other colleges.
"Brad, the econ professor, is Levi's neighbor. He saw you two offloading groceries on the weekend. And you also came in with Levi this morning, according to Sally."
"Oh my god, is anything private here?" My cheeks heated at the thought of someone else seeing Levi and I go at it in his garage. But I am pretty sure he only came to me after the door closed. Or was it just as the door was closing? Aaaah.
She took the jug of freshly boiled water and poured it into her mug.
"My apartment had a burst pipe, which is why I am staying with him."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me. He's your husband after all." She sipped her tea in the most dramatic way possible. I rolled my eyes."So?"
"So what?" I went to the coffee machine, placed the pot beneath it and watched it brew.
"Are you sleeping with him?"
I nodded. No use lying to her. She was my only friend after all.
Jess's eyes widened. "Elle! How big is he? He looks like a big guy."
I rolled my eyes. "Big."
Jess choked on her tea. "Bigger than Wyatt?"
"Pfft. Definitely."
"Aaaaaah!"
Just then, Billie walked in, dampening the mood immediately. I wished right then that I was done making my coffee, but I was waiting for it to brew, so we had to stand there in silence as I watched the black liquid simmer.
"Hi," she said meekly.
Jess gave her a cold, "Hello."
I had a lump in my throat too big for me to respond.
Jess continued to sip her tea, not saying anything, and Billie took out her mug and stood next to me.
She was waiting for the coffee as well. God damn it.
The silence was so awkward that Jess's sips felt like a loud, piercing rip.
When the coffee was done, I took the pot off and poured the brown liquid into my cup.
Billie poured into hers and just as I was about to leave, she said, "Can I talk to you for a second? "
I wanted to say no, but still I was curious to hear what she had to say.
I gestured to Jess that she can go. Jess seemed to hesitate, but I shooed her away.
When we were alone, I said, "What?"Billie turned to face me.
She had tied her blonde hair in a messy bun.
Billie was taller than I, and I had to look up to stare into her eyes, which I hated.
"So you and Levi are like married and everything?"
"Yeah, why?"
"If that's the case, then that's good. It's good that you're doing well." She bent her head down, toying with her mug.
"Is that all you want to say?"
"It's just that…" she sighed. "Wyatt and I aren't together anymore. And I, uh…I wanted to say I am sorry."
"Oh. So now that you and your sleazy boyfriend have broken up. Now you want to apologize?" If only Jess were here to see this.
"I didn't know what I was thinking, okay!
I was so wrapped up in Wyatt, and our relation—I mean affair, that I wasn't thinking properly.
And then to find out he was also cheating on me and he didn't care that much about me.
That hurt." She exhaled. "I mean, why have sympathy for someone like me, a cheater who got cheated on, right?
And that's not what I am looking for. I only want to say I am sorry. "
Billie didn't sound like the same confident person I have always known. She sounded dejected. My chest warmed, and I had to stop myself. She betrayed you. Cheated on you and was smug as fuck about it.
"I knew you weren't seeing Levi. I knew you were loyal to Wyatt, but I let myself believe the lie because it was comfortable. It absolved me of what I did."
"Are you done?"
Billie blinked at me.
"Anything else?"
She sighed again. "No. But… Men like Wyatt. And Levi. Rich guys. They don't care about anyone else but themselves."
I scoffed. "Are you trying to say Levi is just like Wyatt?"
"You don't have to lie to me. I know he married you so he could gain his inheritance. Wyatt told me about the clause. They're family friends, remember?"
Yeah, they went to the same school together and were friends. Of course, Wyatt knew. I felt a wave of embarrassment washing over me. I glanced away from Billie, unable to look at her.
"So? What's your point?" I said.
"He's using you? Just as Wyatt used me."
"You might think that since you fooled me, broke my trust and lied to me, that I am some stupid little girl, but I know what I got into.
Newsflash. I'm the one who asked him to marry me.
I knew about the deal and made him an offer.
Money in exchange for a wife. But since he could not resist this," I pointed at myself, "We decided to make our marriage that much less fake.
The amazing sex is just a side dish, really. "
Billie blinked like a deer in the headlights. "Oh."
"Yes."
Billie sighed. "If you know what you're doing, then I am sorry for ever thinking differently."
She turned and left. But what she said was still on my mind long after she was gone, longer after I was back at my desk. He's only using you . Fuck. Thanks for ruining my day, Billie.