A Broken Forever(25)

"Yep, okay-who's up for another drink??" I asked with enthusiasm, desperate to end the conversation right here.

Kari raised her empty wine glass, but Kacie pointed at the table for her to replace it. At least I was under no illusions that our conversation about this was over.

"How long did you date for and when?"

Easy, harmless question, I could handle this! "We dated in high school for a year." Okay, so maybe I'm leaving out the whole 'we got married' thing.

"What happened to your relationship?" This one wasn't quite as easy as I hoped but maybe, a little trick with the wording and all further questions would be avoided.

"Well, we stopped dating." Oh yeah-that would make her curiosity fade away. Even I was getting irritated with my own responses.

"Did he break up with you?" Kari placed a hand on my arm; pity filled her eyes and I just couldn't take it. Obviously they would immediately jump to the conclusion that this sexy billionaire would end things with me. Which would leave them thinking I was a scorned woman with a broken heart-if only! Maybe I wouldn't be simply going through the motions of having a life-perhaps I would actually be living if that were the case.

I had Richard and a life to be proud of, but I couldn't silence the thoughts of agony and despair. Especially after I've had one too many drinks.

"No, he did not," I replied, sitting a little taller and finally not afraid to meet their eyes. Amy did say it was time to tell someone; well, here goes nothing. "After we dated for a year we got married and then after a little bit of time passed we got a divorce. Well, I should say that I asked for a divorce."

This time I could tell neither of them were expecting that answer. Both sat with their jaws dropped open wide, unable to respond.



       
         
       
        

"There, now can we have another drink?" I didn't wait for either of them to respond before I got up and went to the fridge for the next and unfortunately last bottle. There wasn't even a point to screw around with a glass, since reliving this was making me need to forget it all.

"You're not being serious," Kacie said, still in awe.

"Yes Kace, I am. Now, if you don't mind I'd really enjoy it if we could stop talking about this."

For some reason they listened, and even though I could practically hear their thoughts screaming at me, they held back all questions. I wasn't trying to be a bitch about it, but I knew at some point I would have to go home to my fiancé and I didn't want to be an emotional wreck. The last thing I needed was to blurt out something while drunk that I avoided at all costs sober.

Eventually I got a frantic call from Richard asking me where I was. Apparently I had completely forgotten to tell him that not only was my car not working, but that I wasn't home. Before I could suggest another plan for the evening, he was in his car on the way to pick me up. For my own good, I began viciously chugging glasses of water and made my way out to meet him. I sank down into the front seat, and while he scolded me for not telling him where I was, I tried not to get sick in his car.

When we got home I convinced him I didn't need to be taken care of so he could shower. Truthfully, I needed just a few more minutes to unwind before I went to bed. Going to sleep next to my fiancé with my thoughts dwelling on my ex was the worst thing I could do. I hopped up onto the counter next to the sink with a glass that I filled with cold water.

I casually checked my social media, not really paying much attention, when a text from a number I didn't recognize came in. My eyes darted around the room; I'm not sure if I was actually expecting to find someone standing there staring at me with a phone in their hands. Or if I was trying to make sure Richard wasn't there watching before I opened the message.

Unknown Number: So why did you take a cab today? You know it isn't wise to trust the cab drivers in the city. You should have a car of your own-much safer.

After reading it a dozen times I still couldn't believe it. There was no question as to who the sender was, but the question of how he got my number echoed around my head. Not just that, but why my heart fluttered at the realization that right now-I was on his mind. My gut instinct told me to delete it and go to sleep, but I couldn't just ignore it. Before I knew it my thumbs were flying across the keys and pressing send.

Me: How did you get my number, Creeper? And I do have a car, thank you very much!

The water from the shower shut off and I felt my heart race. My pulse beat in my ears as I strained to listen for any sign that Richard was going to turn the corner and see my extremely sketchy demeanor. It was during those moments of silence that my phone vibrated and nearly gave me a heart attack. Before my churning stomach even recovered, I was reading Stefan's reply.