He looks frustrated as hell, and I can see where he`s coming from, I`d feel the same way, but he can`t help me with this.
„I`ll do what you need me to do, but I want you to know that if I ever come face to face with Kingston again, there`s a strong possibility I`ll punch him. Hard.”
„As long as you don`t go looking for him, I`ll take that chance. Thanks, Sammy.”
He nods and finally goes away. As soon as he`s out the door, I slump my shoulders and stumble back to the couch.
Gwen looks at me with a lot more concern than I`ve ever seen her show. Goodie, I must look like a complete trainwreck.
„You can go too, sweetie, I`m fine. I just need to wallow a bit before I`ll be back to my normal self.”
I`m full of shit, and we both know it. The look on her face tells me she`s not buying what I`m selling, and I`m not surprised, we`ve been friends for too long, and she knows me too well.
„He`s being an idiot,” Gwen says, and judging by her tone, she would love to get her hands on Max right now. Gwen is rarely mean, but when you manage to unleash her inner bitch, you better watch out because it`s a doozy.
„I can`t believe he would think, even for a moment, that you could do such a thing. Big dumb jock!”
A startled laugh bursts out before I can catch it. I don`t think I`ve ever heard her call someone a big dumb jock; she`s usually very wary of name-calling.
„He is a big dumb jock,” I say because being angry is better than feeling hurt.
„He humiliated me, G. He acted like I was nothing to him.”
Her eyes well up with tears at seeing me so sad but I need to get this out, I need to tell someone.
„Hoggins was attacking me, and he just stood there with his back to me like I was nobody to him. We were in bed together when Hoggins showed up, did I tell you that?”
„No, you didn`t.”
„Well, we were. We`d spent all Sunday in his bed, talking and fucking, and he treated me like he didn`t give to cents about me. You know I`ve never felt so humiliated in all my life, never felt so small.”
„Oh, honey, I`m so sorry. You`re wonderful, and he doesn't deserve you, he`s the one who should feel small. Ema was right; men are emotionally constipated.”
I smile, remembering that night. It was only a few days ago, but it felt like a lifetime. Then the smile drops from my lips when I think of something else.
„Ema. God, do you think she believes I was the one who told the magazine about the Fentanyl?”
Gwen shakes her head emphatically.
„No way, she`s way too smart for that. Only an idiot, a complete moron, an absolute imbecile , would believe such a thing.”
Again, I have to smile at her little show of rage on my behalf.
„Not much of a fan of Max these days, are you?” I ask
„What gave it away?” she deadpans
„Oh nothing, you were totally subtle. I just happen to know you so well. Otherwise, one could never tell.”
She nods, a mock-serious expression on her face.
„Good, good, I wouldn`t want to be too obvious. But seriously, Sophie, how can I help you? I hate to see you like this; you`re my smiley hippie.”
„I`m going to tell you the same thing I told Sam; I need time. I need to cry it out for a bit, wallow in misery for a few days and get it out of my system. G, I`m in love with the idiot.”
She wants to say something, but I cut her off.
„I know he doesn't deserve it, but I am. I love him, and he hurt me very badly, so I`m going to be kind of a mess for a couple of days, and I`m sorry you have to see that, but it can`t be helped. It`s a process, I think, so I have to get through it. I appreciate you being here for me, but I think you`d better go home. You have to go to work tomorrow, and the kids need you to be rested.”
„No, I don`t want to leave you on your own. I`ll be fine tomorrow, but if you need me I can call in sick, Miss Everly can cover for me.”
I shake my head.
„No, I`ll be okay on my own. As I said, I just need to cry it out, and I think it`s better if I do it on my own. I swear I`ll call if I need you, G.”
She looks torn, and I know she feels bad about leaving me on my own but also realizes she can`t be of any help to me right now.
„You pinky promise you`ll call if you need me?”
„I double pinky promise,” I say with all seriousness because you don`t mess around with pinky promises.
She seems to be content with that, so she gives me another hug before heading to the door. She stops before opening it and turns back towards me.
„Do you remember when we first meet at orientation?”
„Yeah”
„Do you remember there were like four other girls around that I could have asked for directions, but I came straight to you? I did that because there`s this thing about you, Soph, an extraordinary thing that makes you stand out from other people. You had it then, and you certainly have it now.”
I finally get what she`s trying to say, and I can feel my eyes welling up. God, I love this girl, and I`m fortunate to have her as a friend.
„You`re special, Soph. Don`t ever let anybody make you feel otherwise.”
„I love you, G.”
„I love you too. I`ll let you do your thing now.”
Chapter 14
Max
Hangovers are a bitch. The smartest thing I ever did in college was not getting drunk because going to practice with
