Chapter 59
“I’m so sorry,” Dawn says after I tell her what I’ve discovered about Sam. “Are you sure about him and Kalina? I mean, that’s pretty brazen, cheating on you in your own bed while you’re out shopping with your mom. What a sleazebag.”
“I’m sure.” We’re sitting in the living room of Dawn and Jamie’s apartment in the building opposite the Glendale.
I’ve never been here before today, but I’m too distressed to take much notice of my surroundings.
No sooner had I walked through the door than I burst out in tears.
Thankfully, Jamie is at the gym, so it’s just us girls.
“What are you going to do?” Dawn asks.
“I don’t know.” I wipe the tears from my eyes. “He went into work this morning, so I haven’t confronted him yet.”
“He told you that he went into work,” Dawn says, “but are you sure that’s really where he is?”
“I’m not sure of anything.”
“Well, whatever happens, don’t let him talk you into giving him another chance. Trust me, it never works out. Once they’ve cheated on you, they will keep doing it regardless of what they say.”
“I have no intention of giving him another chance.” The way I feel right now, Sam will be lucky if I don’t throw him off the balcony. Forgiveness is not on the agenda.
“Good.”
“I should probably leave. Go back right now and pack a bag. Get the hell out of there before he comes home.”
“And go where?”
“I don’t know. A hotel, I guess.” The obvious place would be my parents’ house, but I’ve already decided that I can’t face their smug I told you so pity.
Sure, my mom will say all the right things, but sandwiched between the comforting words will be the passive-aggressive snipes.
Also, I don’t want to end up back in my childhood bedroom yet again.
That would be too much. A couple of nights at a hotel seems like the best solution.
“I need time to figure things out, and I can’t stay in the apartment with Sam while I do that.
I’m not sure I can even face him right now. ”
“That goes without saying. Honestly, we’d let you stay here, but we only have one bedroom, and the apartment is so small. There just isn’t the space.”
“I would never impose on you like that.”
“Anyway, why should you be the one to leave?” Dawn asks. “It’s Sam who caused this mess. He’s the one who cheated on you. Kick his ass out.”
“He’s also the only one with a steady wage right now. If he leaves, how would I pay the bills?”
“I never said he should shirk responsibility for the apartment. Both your names are on that contract, right?”
I nod.
“Then he still needs to pay his fair share, at least until the two of you come to an agreement.”
“Where would he go?”
“Who cares? That’s not your problem.”
I hadn’t thought of that. And unlike me, he does have somewhere to go.
His friend Rob. They’ve known each other for years, but while Sam has focused on his career, Rob has hardly matured since they were college roommates.
He lives in a filthy apartment in Allston, a neighborhood on the west side of Boston, and spends most of his time playing video games and eating junk food.
But I don’t care about any of that. Rob has a couch, albeit sagging and stained.
And now my mind is made up. I’m not leaving . . . Sam is.