Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
STAY STRONG
I wake from dozing on the uncomfortable gurney in the Rush Medical Center emergency room when Lauren pulls the curtain open and walks in. “You really know how to get attention, sweetie.” She walks over to me and kisses my forehead. “The nurse says they’re keeping you overnight for observation.”
“I heard that too. They’re moving me to a room soon.”
“Good. One of us can stay with you.”
“One of us?”
“Well, it’ll be Sam the Alpha Man. I assume he’ll demand to stay.” She gives me an eye roll. “He ran home to grab some clothes. I’ll stay until he gets back, but I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Okay?”
I chuckle at her description of Sam, but laughing hurts.
I’ve got a long cut on my left side that is fairly deep.
The one on my leg is shorter but just as deep, and the wound from my wrist to my elbow is superficial but still burns.
I had ten stitches on the leg wound, and they used surgical glue on the one on my side and a bandage on my arm, but it all hurts.
“You don’t need to wait. I’m all right,” I say, attempting to reassure her. “I’m sure Blake needs you at home.”
My best friend tries to take care of everyone. I know she’s worried about me, and I do my best to pretend to be okay. The truth is, though, I’m shaken to the core. When I think about the scene in the park, I know in my heart that I’d be dead if Bobby hadn’t been there. I know it.
She scoffs and shrugs. “I don’t think so.”
I chuckle. “What? Are you kidding me? That guy would die without you.”
“Apparently, that’s not the case.”
“Huh? What’re you talking about?”
She takes a deep breath. “Blake and me… we’re separating.”
“What?” I move too fast to sit up and regret it. I yelp in pain.
Lauren jumps up.
“Lauren?” I wince, getting myself as comfortable as I can. “What are you talking about?”
“This can wait, hon. You’re in pain.”
“Tell me.”
Sighing, Lauren says, “Fine. Remember the night of the blizzard? When he didn’t come home and I traced his phone to the Four Seasons?”
“Yeah?” A sense of foreboding hits me.
“Well, he was late again the next night, so I traced his phone again. Same thing. He was at the Four Seasons.”
“Why? What was he doing there?”
She looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
“No. He’d never cheat on you!” I exclaim.
“Never say never, honey. I went to the hotel, pretending to be his assistant. The front desk guy told me where he was after I literally cried. I told them I’d get fired if I didn’t bring him some bogus contract.”
“They believed you?”
“I was crying. Guys hate that shit.”
“So you went to his room? What happened?” Do I really want to know this?
“I did. I knocked, saying, ‘Room service.’ I disguised my voice. When he opened the door, he was only wearing his boxers. Boxers that I pressed for him that morning.”
She pressed his boxers? “Oh, no, honey. I’m sorry. Who…?”
“His assistant.”
“Gerard? His assistant, Gerard?”
“Yep. Turns out he’s bisexual. Well, he’s gay.
He was just faking it with me. He was attracted to my money, and so was Gerard.
I think Gerard was more upset about me finding out than Blake.
Thankfully, he signed a prenuptial agreement, so now, because he cheated, he gets nothing.
That means an end to Gerard’s free trips and the lavish gifts Blake showered on him. ”
“No,” I say with a gasp. It’s shocking—literally shocking.
“Yep. Honestly, I think Blake wanted to be discovered. He loves Gerard, evidently. They’ve been together for years.
I had no idea. None. What kind of wife doesn’t realize her husband is gay?
” she says, looking down at her hands. I can tell she’s holding back.
She looks so sad. My best friend is going through a tough time, and I’m absolutely no help.
I reach my good arm out to her to hold her hand. “I’m so sorry, sis. I really am.”
I hear her sniffle. “I know. Me, too. I just thought it was normal for couples to only have sex once a month. I assumed our marriage was typical. But I was very, very wrong.” She wipes away a tear and smiles.
“I’m sorry. This is all about you. I’ll talk to you more about this later.
Right now, we need to get you better so we can go get drunk somewhere. ”
I smile at my bestie even while my heart hurts for her. It hurts a lot.