Chapter 52
Lydia
I think I’m hyperventilating. Or possibly dying. I’m not sure which. I feel numb all over. My breaths are tripping over themselves in their haste to escape. The scene that took place ten feet away under studio lights keeps replaying over and over in my mind like a track stuck on repeat.
One minute Mandy was asking me normal questions about Cole’s campaign and what it’s like being married to him. Then the next she was accusing me of faking our happy marriage and shoving a picture of Cole kissing Ashley into my shocked face. For the briefest second, I was ready to tell her it must be an old picture, but then I saw Ashley’s outfit. A black top tucked into a white skirt. The outfit from her Instagram post the day Cole fainted at Saul’s office. Only a week ago. That was when pain seared through me, and I fled the set before collapsing into one of the hair and make-up chairs. Which is where I still am, since my fight or flight adrenaline ran out and now my legs won’t move.
“Lydia,” Mandy’s voice, which I always found so friendly before, sounds like fingernails dragging across a chalkboard. “Are you alright? Do you need someone to see you to your car?” She sighs. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, but honestly, I’m saving you a lot more hurt in the long run. Once a cheater, always a cheater.” She tosses her long red hair, and I fight the urge to yank it.
“I think,” I say evenly, “if you actually cared about sparing me hurt, you would’ve told me privately about that photo.”
Mandy clicks her tongue. “But my ratings wouldn’t have gotten a boost if I’d done it that way, now would they? I’ve got my sights set on bigger things than the local news. Anyway, if I hadn’t said yes when Ashley asked if I wanted a scoop on Cole Jacobson, someone else would’ve. She managed to get Deb’s Deets to run her first article, and that woman’s blog posts go viral regularly.”
I stare at her stunned. “Ashley is the one who gave you the photo?”
Mandy nods. “Of course. Honey, it’s often the mistress who wants to tell the wife in these types of situations.”
“I don’t understand. She knew this would hurt Cole too. His campaign will be devastated by this. If they’re having an affair, why would she do that to him?”
“Well, she was quite irate when she called me, going on about how you’d ruined her life and stolen her fiancé. I’m guessing it was for revenge…which really should make you feel better,” she adds thoughtfully. “He must’ve decided to end things with her and stick with you.”
I’m speechless for a minute. She thinks I stole her fiancé? They were engaged? No one ever told me that. Surely, Josh or Delia would’ve mentioned it. Delia! Something clicks in my brain. Her apologetic posture as she told me she and Ashley were no longer friends. She’d been about to tell me something Ashley had done to make her end their friendship when Josh interrupted us.
“Oh my gosh,” I exclaim. “That’s how she knew about law school! Delia must’ve told her.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Mandy rolls her eyes. “Now, do you need help to your car or not, because I have somewhere to be.”
I don’t answer her. I just get up and walk on shaky legs out of the studio and to my car, my mind whirring. I don’t know what to do next. I don’t want to go home. There are too many reminders of Cole there. I don’t want to go see Jamie; I can’t take the pity I know I’ll see in her eyes. There’s no way I’ll go see Josh. His I told you so’s would be even worse than Jamie’s pity. My eyes scan the horizon, and suddenly I know where I want to go.