I dialed him, put the phone on speaker, and drove away from their stuffy neighborhood.
“Hey man,” his casual voice came through.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me she was fucking engaged?”
He paused, and I heard shuffling on the other end. “How was I supposed to? I know what she means to you. How could I tell you she was engaged to a snotty ass lawyer?”
“Maybe just giving me a heads up would have sufficed?”
“You’re right. I should’ve said something.” He sighed. “I’m sorry.”
I slammed my hand against the dashboard. “Her car broke down. That asshole wouldn’t answer the phone, so I took her home. I met Preston.” His name sounded vile coming from my lips.
“Fuck, man. I know. He’s a piece of work. I don’t know why she’s staying with him. Both Magnolia and I have tried to talk some sense into her. She won’t budge.”
I pulled into the driveway of my ranch house. “Magnolia? You still talk to her?”
“Uh, no. Faith just told me.” He chuckled. “I haven’t talked to her in ages!”
I snorted. “Right, because that doesn’t sound like a lie. It’d be good for you to have a relationship with her.”
“We’re talking about your love life. Not mine.” I could almost hear the son of a bitch rolling his eyes.
“I just got home. Talk to you later?”
“Yeah. Don’t give up, man. I know she’s still got feelings for you,” he said.
My lips parted. “I thought you said you weren’t getting into this? How the hell do you know that?”
“Have a great night!” He hung up the phone, quickly.
I grumbled, grabbed my shit and headed into my house. Is there a possibility she still had feelings for me? I shook my head. Nah.
If she had, she would’ve called me.
I reached for my cell phone. My hands trembled as I typed out a text to Mags and Eve. I couldn’t remember a time where Preston was as pissed off as he was now. He shouted, made outrageous insinuations, and threw a picture frame against the wall, smashing it to bits. It held a photograph of us right after Preston asked me to marry him. We both looked over the moon with happiness as I held up my left hand, proudly displaying my engagement ring. Asher got under his skin in a way no one else had. After his childish tantrum ended, Preston had stormed out of the house in a huff to God knows where.
Me: Preston just stormed out of the house. Didn’t tell me where he was going.
Mags: That dick! What happened this time? Didn’t like what was for dinner?
I rolled my eyes and wished she were joking. But Preston didn’t like my cooking, and he let that fact be known a few weeks ago.
Eve: What happened? Are you okay?
Me: Well… Asher dropped me off at home.
Eve: I just got off work. I’m on my way over.
Mags: Leaving the gym now, I’ll be there in ten!
Me: The door’s open!
I exhaled loudly before I left my phone on the couch and cleaned up the glass from the picture frame. I scrunched up my nose and tossed it into the trash can.
My front door busted open.
“Oh, honey!” Mags scampered over to me and wrapped me in a tight hug.
I hugged her back.
“Where’s Eve?” she asked.
I pulled back and glanced toward the open door to see Evelyn standing there with a sheepish smile. She gave us a small wave before she stepped in and shut the door behind her.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the love fest,” she said, as she walked over to hug me.
“You’re part of this love fest, and you know it!” Mags snorted.
“Alright, now, what’s this I hear about Asher? What do you mean he dropped you off at home? I didn’t even know he was back in Violet Ridge?” Eve pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose.
“Oh, boy, we need to catch you up.” Mags ushered us all into the kitchen.
“Why does she already know?” Eve pouted.
“Because you were at work today, and I didn’t want to bother you,” I said.
Mags grabbed three wine glasses and filled them to the top with Preston’s wine. He was stingy with that wine, and I could never figure out why.
Eve grabbed her glass. “Fill me in!”
I explained everything. From Linda gushing over the new gym teacher all the way to Preston storming out of the house after our argument.
“He did not say that!” Mags mumbled all sorts of profanities under her breath.
Eve shook her head, her curly red hair bouncing around. “That’s way out of line, Faith. Even for him.”
My shoulders slumped. “I know. I don’t know where it came from. But to call me a whore for sleeping with Asher seven years ago, the only other person I’ve been with, was unpleasant.”
Eve snorted.
Mags slammed her empty wine glass down. “Unpleasant? Seriously? Preston’s a piece of work! A total asshole, Faith.”
I nodded my head. “I know he can be. But he has some good qualities.”
Eve scoffed and folded her hands in front of her. “Like what?”
I sat there and stared into my wine glass. After a couple of minutes, I shrugged. “I’m pissed at Preston, tipsy, and all my thoughts are plagued with Asher. What’s wrong with me?”
“You’re still in love with Asher,” Eve remarked before she pushed her glasses up on her head and rubbed her eyes. “He meant the world to you for so long and now he’s back.”
“Exactly why you should dump the shithead,” Mags said.
I groaned. “I need to text Asher about carpooling.” I reached for my phone, but Mags snatched it away.
“I got this!” She ran away with my phone.
I ran after her, but Eve grabbed me from behind.
I gasped. “Evelyn! You never team up with her!”
“Don’t use my full name! I just know Asher is your one true love!” Mags winked.
Mags typed fast on my phone before the sound of the message being sent whooshed through
