Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,55

enough makeup to hide the circles under my eyes and gave myself some color on the cheeks. Two swipes of mascara per eye and a finger fluff to my bangs, and I was ready to deal with work.

I tossed on jeans and a Crawly embroidered polo over my basic white bra and cotton panties. I didn't think I would need to worry about lingerie for a while. I needed to focus on work and only work right now, not that Mason didn't creep into my thoughts every minute instead of second. That in itself was an improvement.

As I pulled out of my parking space in my apartment lot, I noticed that Mason's car was not in his parking spot. I tried not to think about where he was or what he was doing, but I did.

Once I got busy at work, my whole week played out in my head and there was one very important person I had not let in about what happened on Monday after my car died. Sometimes, I wanted to give her a break from all my drama. I decided to grab my cell phone and hide out in the office supply cabinet while I caught my best friend up on my week of weirdness.

As soon as I got the logistics out, and quieted my babble about what happened, Marion chimed in. "It sounds like it went from bad to worse. I wish you would have called me. I just figured you were busy at work and hopefully making up with Mason. I didn't think it was all that bad. You know I'm there for you."

I took a deep breath and replied. "I guess I feel like I am nothing but constant drama. I wanted to sulk this one out on my own for a bit. Not have you worry about me for a change. Seeing as soon as the twins arrive, you will have enough to handle with them instead of always bailing my emotional mess out. It wasn't so bad, you know, not calling you and crying. Besides, the two pounder bag of M&M's helped, along with aunt Heather."

"Let me guess. You ate all the blue ones first." She snickered.

"You know it girl." I taunted.

"Well, next time, don't leave me out if you need me. A shoulder to cry on is what we do for each other. Maybe because everything seems to fall in your court lately, you might have forgotten about all the times you've been there for me, when I needed someone."

She had a point. I guess, I just felt like my drama was on red alert, while that may be true, it wasn't long ago that Marion's was just as crazy.

Marion spoke up and said something that made me think even harder about my role in my family. "Hey. How many times have you been there for your dad, you know when he is drunk? How many times have you sobered him up and made him presentable before your mom got home from work? Then there is Bethany. Sure, she is book smart, but fashion and street smart; she is not. How many times have you been there to help her with that? Huh?" She laughed as I got out a mumbled 'I guess'.

"Now. Your aunt Heather, sweet, dear, party hardy let the good times rolls still stuck in the eighties' aunt Heather? How many times have you bailed her out of a situation? When my dear, it should be the other way around. Although, I don't recall you ever landing in jail or naked in a city pool at midnight. She's crazy. Not to mention the fact, that you have been your mom's emotional punching bag. She has turned to you whenever things aren't right with her life and tried to focus on yours with nit picking at you. Really, did you think you are all that messed up? Because you are the most dependable, lovable, sweet woman, I know. Not to mention, you are smoking hot. I know you don't think you are sometimes, but you don't always see what other people see. And yes, where would Wally Woo be without you? He is the lamest production manager or boss in general that I have ever worked for, when I worked there, but he is loveable, and you do make him look like an excellent boss. Without you, he would probably be back on the production line."

I let all of that sink in. I spit out my hair that