peaches and cream. I always believed if I pretend hard enough then it was true.
“Can we talk about the man you fucked in St. Lucia? I know, I know; you didn’t fuck him. You just woke up naked in his bed with no recollection of what the fuck happened the night before.” My brazen potential booty call had momentarily sidetracked me from our main problem.
“I think I would know if I fucked someone. Don’t you think? Why would he tell me nothing happened if it did?” That’s a good point. Maybe the dude didn’t take advantage of her?
“So, why do we care about this guy again?” My phone starts vibrating with a text. I look with a smile, sure that Brian is getting antsy about our date tonight.
-The realtor said you left some clothes at the apartment, where are you staying? I’ll have them messengered over later today.-
It’s Gavin.
-Have it delivered to The Pierre. I’m staying there for now-, I text back as another text comes in and this time, it’s not Gavin.
-I love you…we need to talk-
It’s him. I’m lightheaded and I can’t breathe; I feel my heartbeat in my ears. He can’t say those words to me. He doesn’t know what they do to me. Em kneels at my side. Why am I on the floor? Am I crying?
“Sara, honey…what is it? What happen? Did Gavin text you?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s him, Em. He’ll never leave me alone. He’ll never let me go.”
Realization finally hits Emily as she yells at me, “Is it Jeff? Sara, you need to let Louis and Eddie talk to him. He needs to let you live and make a future with someone else. He can’t keep popping up in your life. It’s like he knows when you’re weak and he preys on you. You know he can go to jail for statutory rape. Sara, sweetie, don’t cry…please, I hate it when you cry.” We’re both on the floor of Pete’s Tavern as Emily wraps her arms around me and kisses the side of my head. I hate crying. I don’t want to cry. Only dumb cows cry. I’m a dumb cow. “Okay, no more tears,” Emily announces as she wipes my wet cheeks with her designer T-shirt.
“You just flashed me,” I say as we both smile again.
“Yes, yes, my boobs have magical power and I use them to heal the world.”
“Is that what Louis, says?”
“Once a day and twice on Sunday.”
“Maybe if I start sucking them all my problems will go away, too.”
“If you start sucking them, you’ll have Louis Bruel as a problem.” She’s right, that man is obsessed with my best friend and her magical boobs.
“What did he want? That stupid cock sucker,” Emily barks out.
“I love it when you cuss. It really puts a smile on my face.”
“Come here. You don’t have to tell me what he says. But if any of us can help, just say the word.” Nobody can help me because nobody but Jeff and I know the truth. Nobody knows what we promised and the decisions we’ve lived with for the past fifteen years.
“Thank you. Let’s get me settled at The Pierre and I’ll return you back to Louis before he sends the FBI, CIA, and Mossad after you.” If I ever find a guy who wants me half as much as Louis wants my best friend I’ll be the luckiest girl in the world.
“Come on, Louis already has you booked into the penthouse residential apartment at The Pierre for the next month. That triplex is bigger than my townhouse. Your best friend is married to a real estate big shot, that’s got to yield some perks.”
“Em, you guys didn’t have to do that. I can just get a regular room that I can afford. I’m not your problem.”
“Sara, you are my best friend in the whole wide world, my only real friend! When we stopped talking while you were married to that schmuck, I felt more alone than ever…I was lost. I would move you into my house if I thought you’d agree to it…trust me, having you a few blocks away at The Pierre is more for me than for you. And anyway, that apartment is on the market, why shouldn’t someone enjoy it if it’s empty? I hope you know that Louis and I would do anything for you.”
Just when I think my life is total and utter shit, I get a reminder of how lucky I am to call Emily