“Oh, honey, you’re going to be okay. Did that bastard fuck you over?”
“We just got back. I went to my apartment, and the designer he hired refurnished the apartment, but they didn’t do my bedroom, so the girls have made it their closet. It’s stuffed with their clothes and shoes.”
“Are you shitting me?” Leave it to Gabby to say precisely how I feel. “You paid rent, didn’t you?”
I nod.
“I don’t have any place to go.”
“You can stay here.” Gabby gets up, and I hear her in the kitchen.
“I fucked my life up so bad,” I lament.
“That’s crap, and you know it,” she yells from the kitchen. I hear the blender, and I’m grateful for the drink coming my way.
Though I can’t drink too much or I’ll be sorry tomorrow, and I’ll need all my wits about me.
I reach for the drink she offers me and take a big gulp. Perfect.
“What do you mean?” Gabby asks. “How did you fuck up your life?”
I take another big sip and call on the liquid courage. “I slept with Jackson.”
“Shit, girl! How was that a fuck up? Was it amazing? I bet he’s incredible in bed. Don’t get me wrong, Damien doesn’t leave me wanting more, but I’ve seen those hips of his, and I bet those abs are mouthwatering.” She takes a big gulp of her own drink and shuts her eyes, fanning herself with her hand.
I want to save some of what we had because it was special to me. But I can’t help smiling. “Jackson’s not a selfish lover.”
“Let me get some popcorn popped. I want to know all of it.” She jumps up and runs into the kitchen.
“There isn’t much to tell,” I yell after her.
“Tell me everything. Did he go down on you? I hate guys who want you to go down on them but refuse to reciprocate.”
I cover my face with my hands. I can’t have this conversation. I need to talk about something else.
“I’ll be right back.” I walk to her bathroom and take a few moments to gather myself. I don’t want to hash this all out and dissect it.
When I walk out, Gabby’s waiting for me. “Let’s curl up in my bed and talk about it.”
I realize all I have to wear is sexy lingerie, and I don’t want to wear that with her. She wouldn’t care, but I’d be embarrassed.
“I left one of my bags at the apartment. Can I borrow something to sleep in?”
“Of course.”
She gets up, and when she returns, she tosses me a T-shirt and a pair of boxers.
“What are you going to do?” she asks.
“I think San Francisco has run its course, and it’s time for me to move home. I don’t have an apartment anymore, and I don’t think I can work for Jackson now that we’ve been together. He moves on quickly, and I don’t want to wait around for that. I want to make my own decision, not let him control me.”
Tears spring to Gabby’s eyes. She reaches for my hand, and we talk most of the night. I don’t give her the bedroom details, but I do tell her the highlights of our trip. It was a great time, after all. She thinks I’m giving up too easily with Jackson. She has a boyfriend who gave up an incredible job for her. But Jackson changes women like people change underwear—often.
We both cry and laugh. Eventually, we fall asleep, but for me it’s not restful. I keep trying to figure out a plan. Finally, I get up a little before six. I search for some business-appropriate clothes. I’ll need to pick up the rest of my stuff from Jackson’s place sometime—preferably when he’s not around.
After a quick shower, I head into the office. My cell is dead, as I forgot to charge it last night. Shit. Rather than order online and pick it up, today I have to go into Starbucks and stand in line with all the stockbrokers. Oh well. It’s a gentle reminder of what it’s like to be normal again.
I manage Starbucks and walk across the street into the office. Todd, the security guard, greets me in the quiet lobby. “Welcome back, Ms. Woods.”
“Thank you, Todd. It’s good to be back.”
“You look rested.”
“Thank you.” I wish I felt relaxed and rested, but I know what lies ahead of me.
When I step off the elevator, the office is chaotic—a stark contrast to the lobby. There are police, and I see Jim, Brian, and Ben. Everyone looks upset.
My heart stops. What happened this time?
Then I spot Jackson, and he’s a mess.
Immediately my radar comes alive. Something’s happened, and it isn’t good. If it’s Bobby Sanders’ girlfriend, I’m going to lose it. A person can only take so much. This is over the top for some slimy guy who can’t even break up with a girl like a decent human being. He’s not worth this much passion. I may have to hit her over the head a few times to get her to understand. She can have him. Good riddance. He’s a narcissist and only cares about his own satisfaction.
“Oh my God, there you are.” Jackson comes rushing over. “Where have you been?”
Everyone has stopped what they’re doing. I look around, and there are easily ten people waiting for my answer.
“I went home to my apartment yesterday.”
“But when we went by, you weren’t there, and your roommate said you’d left,” Jim says.
“Well, my room had been converted back to a closet. I didn’t have a place there to sleep, so I went to my friend Gabby’s,” I explain.
“Why weren’t you answering your phone?”
