“I can’t drive you to Mexico.” Seriously?! Where is this girl's sense of sisterhood? Girl power? I would even just settle for a smidge of empathy.
I let out a big puff of air and then just tell her the address of Joanna’s house.
Because right now…I need a mama.
JAKE
I went by Evie’s apartment, but either she wasn’t home, or she just didn’t want to talk to me, because my knock went unanswered. So did my phone call. And all fifteen of my texts. I even tried to bribe her out of hiding by texting her a picture of the muffins I brought sitting outside her door. That didn’t work either.
Clearly, I’m in deeper with her than I thought.
I’m not giving up yet, though. Tonight is the benefit, and since I know she’ll be there, I intend on going and sweeping her off of her feet. That’s all right, Evie. You can hide for now. But I’m going to find you very soon. Wow, that sounded creepy.
This morning, I called June and filled her in on my chat with Natalie. My sister begged me to let her go over there and rip every last extension out of Natalie’s head, but I couldn’t bring myself to give her the green light. Instead, I told her to keep Sam away from the house until I could drive back by and make sure that Natalie was gone.
She was, and when I went inside, I was immediately assaulted by the smell of her perfume. I’m pretty sure the crazy lady sprayed it all over my house like a dog trying to mark its territory. Ridiculous.
I used disinfectant spray on every piece of upholstery, and now my house smells like a hospital. But that’s worlds better than the way it smelled before.
Finally, Sam came home, and I told her, very delicately, that her mom was back in town, and I asked Sam if she would even be interested in seeing her. I knew that answer before I even asked the question, and I was right: no.
It’s sad when a ten year old knows that her mom can’t be trusted. But she did agree to talking on the phone if Natalie did, indeed, call. I hate that I have to even give Sam a glimmer of hope that her mom will call when I’m not even certain that Natalie stayed in town. For all I know, her boyfriend left her high and dry, and she was only coming back to milk me for some spending money.
Sam and I spent the rest of the afternoon together, watching movies and playing in the pool (while I continued to sneak glances at my phone to see if Evie texted me back, even though I had the ringer on loud and knew for a fact she hadn’t), and then FINALLY it was time to put on my suit and go to the benefit.
“Are you sure you’re not upset about spending another evening without me?” I ask Sam before walking out the door.
She just laughs at me. “I spent all day with you, Daddy. I think we’ve had plenty of togetherness time.” Oh, great. My kid is already over me. “Besides, Grandma said she and I are going to do some online shopping for new school clothes after you leave.”
I raise my eyebrow at my mom who’s come over to watch Sam for me. “Oh, she did, did she?”
“Yes, she did,” my mom says proudly with her dainty little nose stuck up in the air. “Now, get on out of here, and go make that woman of yours swoon.”
I can only hope.
Chapter Thirty-Two
EVIE
I stand outside of the venue where the benefit is being held and try to not cry. I’ve been crying all day, so I’m pretty sure that without the help of all the concealer I slapped on I would look like I’ve been punched in both eyes. You know how they say time heals all wounds? Apparently, they meant a lot of time, because with every hour that has passed today, my wounds have only grown deeper. My heart hurts, and I wonder if it’s possible for an organ to physically split down the middle just from emotional pain.
It’s silly, but…I really thought Jake would end up being the one.
Too bad he just ended up being the one to sleep with some skank when I made him mad.
Even still, it doesn’t make sense to me. The woman that opened that door this morning doesn’t line up with anything Jake has been telling me over the past month and a half. But maybe he was just lying. Maybe he really is into sleeping around…he just didn’t want to sleep around with me.
Great, more tears.
“Nope. Uh-uh. No more tears from those pretty green eyes,” says Jo, rushing up beside me to hand me a tissue. “You look too pretty to waste your night thinking about that frog leg for one more second!”
I spent the whole day today at Joanna’s house, lamenting everything that happened over the last 24 hours. Her advice was that we try out a new Pinterest recipe she found, where you boil lemon and various items that belong to an ex-boyfriend and then pour the “juice” into a spray bottle and go spritz that person’s house to bring them bad luck. Or maybe it was to keep the flu away… I can’t remember because I was too busy ugly-crying into a pillow while she explained it.
“I know, I’m trying to stop crying, but I can’t. This is the worst night to have to host a fundraiser.”
“Or it is the best night to host a fundraiser. Because now you get to look hot and keep yourself busy all night. And who knows, maybe you’ll find someone new here tonight too.”
“I don’t want anyone new.”
“You’re right. Too soon. But I’m just saying…I think I saw a Calvin Klein model walk in earlier, and if Gary didn’t make such good chili, I think he might be in trouble.”
Gary chooses that moment to walk by us. He gives Jo a little pat on her rear and then winks at me. “Chili is just an innuendo.”
I cringe. “Yeah. I figured.”
“I’m going on in. Y’all coming in soon?”
“Right behind you, honey,” says Jo with adorably pink cheeks. I thought I had finally found a man who would make my cheeks rosy like Jo’s even after years and years of marriage. Nope. And now the waterworks are happening again.
“Okay, okay, let’s get you inside so everyone can see your handsome date.”
Charlie does look ridiculously cute in his bow tie. I bet Jake would have looked horrible in a bow tie. But when I walk into the venue and look around the warm, glitzing room, I spot Jake standing by a cocktail table, one hand in the pocket of his black suit and the other holding a glass of something bubbly—and man, am I disappointed to see that he looks freaking amazing in a bow tie.
“What is he doing here?” I ask Jo, who follows my gaze to Jake.
Her eyes widen, and she looks back at me. “I don’t know, but you can’t tear him apart here. There are lots of people watching us right now, and if we both go all crazy ex-girlfriend on him, there’s no way we will get any sponsors.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. “Fine. I’ll deal with him and then get him to leave.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to do it?”
“No. I can handle him.”
I think Joanna notices the way my eyes are trailing down his body in that fine-looking suit, and maybe a smidge of appreciation shows on my face, because now she’s stifling a grin and humming a mmhmm. “You just go deal with him, then. Make sure you lock the bathroom door before you do, though.”
I turn my saucer eyes at her. “Joanna!”