only had one cup of coffee instead of my usual two. It doesn’t help that Travis and I had to do major damage control with Joanna last night, so I barely got any sleep.
I wouldn’t normally have a problem being late for Pilates, or skipping at all, especially since today is a special two-hour Saturday session. But I’ve been raving about Studio Balance and Mandy’s skills for so long, Lora finally agreed to come with me.
Snatching my Nikes from their cubby in the closet, I shove one on my foot and hop into it, then switch to the other. I’m annoyed that I couldn’t find my favorite tank—the cute black one with cutouts on each side and straps in back. I had to settle for my pink one, but it doesn’t go as well with these pants. After tying my hair back, I turn my attention to our bed. Sometime this morning, Travis and I must’ve kicked the duvet and top sheet to the floor and yanked the fitted sheet from each of the corners. I can’t leave it like that. I get to work making the bed, tucking the fitted sheet around the bottom of the mattress.
“Oh, for the love of God.” Groaning, Lora peers into the room. “Do you really have to do this now?”
“It’ll only take a second.”
She sighs. “Must’ve had a rough night.”
“Actually, it was. I still can’t believe what happened with Michael and Joanna. That was insane.”
Lora nods as I run through all the details again.
“The worst part of it is that she lied to me, all this time,” I say, smoothing the sheet at the foot of the bed. “I get lying to Michael about her affair, but I was supposed to be her best friend. Last night, she said she was feeling sick and dizzy, so she called off our plans. No biggie, you know? I don’t want to catch something nasty if she’s passing it around. But I guess she was never sick at all. Lying comes second nature to her now.”
“This is like something out of a bad reality show,” Lora agrees. “She’s insane to cheat on Michael and throw all that away. I mean, look at her house.”
“Right?” I go on. “I can’t believe she ditched me to go out with a guy. Never pegged Joanna for a cheater, but you never can tell these days, can you?”
“Who called the cops?” Lora asks. “Did she?”
“Well, I’d just gotten home after leaving you, so I was in the shower when she ran over. She was crying and banging on our door. Travis had called by the time I came downstairs. You should have seen him jump into action, Lora. He was so chivalrous, taking care of Joanna until the police came, making sure she was comfortable. She couldn’t stop crying.”
“Are you sure Michael actually beat her?” Lora frowns. “Or is she lying again?”
“She had marks on her throat and swelling over one eye. Who knows, though? She could’ve done those things to herself. Hard to filter the truth from lies these days. The people on the shows I watch go through the same thing.”
“Did she press charges?”
“No, and she went back to him right after the police left. We offered for her to stay with us, but she wouldn’t listen.”
Lora takes a slow, dramatic blink. “Well, there’s your answer.”
“You should’ve seen her, Lora. She was a mess. And who wouldn’t be, after a fight like that?” I prop the pillows against the headboard. “I didn’t get a chance to really talk to her, to ask about who she’s sleeping with, but you better believe I’ll find out sooner or later.”
“Do you think she’ll show for Pilates this morning?”
“I don’t know,” I say, making a firm crease on the edges, just the way Travis likes it. “Last night she said she was, but plans might’ve changed. Travis was really worried about her. He’s already called from work, wanted to know if I’d