Chapter 2
Lior
I made my way downstairs the next morning with a little bounce in my step, happy to be free from a relationship once more.
I did my favorite online word games while standing at the kitchen island and sipping a cup of coffee, ignoring my phone as it did its usual morning blow-up of incoming texts and emails and other odds-and-ends alerts.
Afterwards, I raced upstairs to change into a pair of baggy sweats I’d had since high school, a hoodie that had seen better days, and pulled my hair into a messy ponytail before hurrying back downstairs where I slid on my favorite, beat-up sneakers.
Phone in pocket and headphones on, I headed out for a walk.
I’d been offered any number of contracts with famous workout brands wanting to see my figure running on their treadmills, stepping on their elliptical, or racing on their stationary bikes.
“We’ll set up an entire indoor gym for you,” I’d been told at least a dozen times by as many companies.
“You’ll get free membership for life,” famous health clubs had promised.
But while I loved a good stretch at my local yoga studio, or a sweat-inducing kickboxing class at the boxing club around the corner, when it came to getting in cardio, I loved nothing more than a brisk morning walk around my neighborhood.
Rain, sun, snow, or sideways sleet, I was outside every day I could be.
I loved seeing the familiar faces, the changes in seasonal decor, updates to an old house’s facade, the smell of bread being baked, fresh brewed coffee filling the air, and the sounds of kids laughing and dogs playing that made up my life in Park Slope.
I side-stepped so a couple jogging together could go by, waved to the owner of the flower shop responsible for all the bouquets in my house, and then turned the corner to Prospect Park.
I had just come out the other side of Endale Arch when my phone vibrated with another alert.
It had been going off all morning, which wasn’t odd, but as usual I’d ignored it.
I didn’t have another job until next week so there was nothing pressing I needed to tend to.
Anything coming in was either friends wanting to gossip about the party the night before, my mother texting with an article about a new cleanse she’d heard about, or my agent wanting to talk about my meeting with the designer I’d chatted with at the party.
The vibrating stopped and then started again. I realized it was a call coming in. No one ever called me before nine. I pulled my phone from my pocket and frowned.
It was Jen, my agent.
I tapped the accept button and the telltale sound of her exercise bike filled my ears. She was always calling from her bike or treadmill.
“Hey, Jen,” I said. “Don’t worry. I talked with Daniela last night and let her know I’m definitely interested in working with her. She said her team would get in touch with you next week.”
“I know,” she said in her usual brisk way. “They already called. That’s not why I’m calling you. Have you been online yet this morning? I’m assuming you haven’t since you didn’t blow up my phone first thing with expletives.”
A sinking sensation filled my gut.
“What’s happened?” I asked, stopping and moving to the side of the sidewalk so as not to block traffic.
“Oliver Manning. He’s claiming you dumped him and he’s broken hearted. Thought you were the one. Can’t imagine moving on from this for a long time.”
“What the fu...” I caught myself, not finishing the word as a young mother and her school age daughter walked by. “But he took it so well! Katya even texted a picture of him making out with one of the new girls an hour after I left!”
“He’s gotta save his reputation though, doesn’t he.”
“For fuck’s sake. What an absolute assho—”
“I have several news sites wondering if you want to comment?”
“Sure,” I said and opened the text messaging app on my phone. I quickly found the photo Katya had sent and forwarded it to Jen. “There’s my comment.”
She was quiet for a moment and then her laugh came through the receiver like a gleeful ray of sunshine. “I think people will hear that loud and clear,” she said, her voice filled with amusement. “Anything else?”
“Nope.”
“I put the meeting with Daniela on our joint calendar. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
We hung up and I strode toward the botanical garden, music blasting in my ears, fury streaming through my veins. I knew it. He’d lied. They all did. They just couldn’t help themselves. Bring on the cats, knitting needles, and tiny hat patterns, I was done with dating.
I broke into a jog, determined to pound it out on the pavement, my old sneakers barely absorbing the shock of each step, reminding me of my growing pains of yore as my shin bones reverberated into my knees. My phone buzzed again. Once, twice, a third time. Another call.
“Fucking hell,” I said, slowing to a stop and pulling out my phone again.
Addie. I grinned. Here we go. I couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say about the news she’d undoubtedly seen first thing. She had Google Alerts set to anything related to me.
“Okay,” I said, laughing as I answered the phone. “Go ahead. Get it out of your system.”
“Lior?”
I frowned.
“Mama?”
Mama was Addie’s mom. Mine was referred to as Mother.
“Honey, Addie’s been in a car accident.”
The words that followed were a blur. Head-on collision. She didn’t know much more than that yet. On her way to the hospital now…
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I said and hung up, blinking in confusion at my surroundings. Where was I? What did I need to do now?
Home. Pack. Adeline.
I turned and took a step, my shoe immediately sinking and sliding in something wet. I looked down, barely controlling my gag reflex as the smell of fresh excrement reached my nostrils.
I’d stepped in dog poo. What’s worse, the offending party – a ambling Golden Retriever – was still doing their business as they walked away, their owner not bothering to clean up after them.
“Hey!” I shouted, my emotions raw and too close to the surface.
And as the man turned toward me, I finally snapped. The wine spilled on my expensive dress last night. Oliver’s lies and smear campaign all over social media this morning. And now my best friend was lying in a hospital bed on the other side of the country?
I’d had enough. I opened my mouth and, just like the man’s dog, proceeded to lose my shit.