Love Her - Andrea Johnston Page 0,31

it goes. I was an insecure brat and jealous of everyone. I was average looking, had average grades, and never felt like I fit in. Boys that I crushed on didn’t know I existed. I found if I put a lot of effort into my appearance the attention followed. My parents did everything right, but it was like the moment I felt a little power I went off the rails.”

Snorting, Gigi smirks and raises a brow. I may have found a kindred spirit by the look she’s giving me. Well, at least teenage me did anyway.

“Popularity was like a drug. I thought I was better than everyone but really, I was lonely. Every relationship I had other than my family was superficial. Total surface friendships and the boyfriends were more about me having a social life than anything else. I learned early on that guys thought I was easy because I was so cruel.”

“Umm . . . how exactly do those two things go together?”

“I have no clue but anytime I refused sex, they broke up with me. Of course, I was faster at getting the word out and would take the credit for the dumping. It was a mess. There were a few girls I tormented. Not for any reason other than I didn’t have what they did, and I was pissed about that.”

Thinking back to my younger years, I cringe at how I behaved. The way I treated Piper Lawrence was disgusting. She was a smart and sweet girl and didn’t deserve the nickname of “Pathetic Piper” because I was jealous. Her bestie, Ashton Sullivan, is a different story. She dished it back my way more often than not. Hell, she still does. When I see them in town, the moment my eyes fall on Ashton, it is like some sort of spell comes over me. A cruel, tongue lashing and hateful spell.

“I bet sixteen-year-old me would have loved you, Lis. Or wanted to kick your ass.”

We both start laughing until tears run down our cheeks. I wonder what my life would have been like if I had a friend like Gigi when I was younger. Would I have fallen at Michael’s feet like I did? How different would I be today?

“Yeah well, while you and Brian were off becoming well rounded adults, I was falling in love with a guest instructor my freshman year of college. Giving my virginity to an older man, sacrificing my college education to be arm candy, and selling my soul along the way.”

“Ohh . . . an older man. Dish.”

“It’s not glamorous by any means. I was enamored. He offered me adventures and romance. He showered me with gifts and attention. Told me I was beautiful and worshipped my body like he was starved without me. Then we married, and I became pregnant. Clementine, named after his great-grandmother, was my do-over. My chance to be better. To live better. But Michael wanted more. Always more. More money, more power.”

Cringing, Gigi stands and says, “Hold that thought. My bladder has been a trampoline for the last ten minutes.”

I watch as she rushes down the hallway toward the bathroom. While she’s gone, I take the opportunity to check in with my mom.

Me: How are the kids?

Mom: Everyone is fine. Enjoy your night with your friend.

Me: I won’t be much longer. I’ll be home in time to tuck the kids in.

Mom: No rush.

“Okay, I’m back. Maybe you should be a writer instead of making my husband’s business more successful. I’m sucked into this story like a telenovela.”

Smiling, I resume my spot on the couch and my story. “I was miserable. We never visited my family, and Michael was always away on business. No matter where he was, he was in charge. Scheduling my commitments and demanding I be at his beck and call. Geez, I make him sound abusive. He wasn’t. He’s just an asshole. By the time I was pregnant with Jacob, I knew our marriage was over. The hushed phone calls and late nights were only half of it. I ignored the smell of bourbon on his breath and the lipstick on his collars because I believed one day, he’d see the life we had and come back around. But he didn’t. He got worse. Spending so much money. Michael always insisted on the best of everything. There’s no way it was all on the up and up.”

“Oh honey. I’m sorry.”

Now it’s my turn to snort. “Don’t be. I’m glad I stuck it