The phone quit ringing and a minute later a beep rang out.
“What does that beep mean?” asked Elizabeth.
“It means there’s a message,” whispered Aimee.
“Oh, for shit’s sake. Give me that,” said Kiki, grabbing the phone. “How do I listen to the message?”
Aimee reached over and pointed to a button. “Press that one.”
“Where’s the speaker phone?”
“There,” said Aimee, pressing it.
Jack’s voice came out loudly into the room. “You’re going to pay for that, Aimee. You think I don’t know you’re fucking that cop? I’m going to report him, and then I’m coming for you and those two whores with you. You took what’s mine and no one does that. No one! Do you hear me?! Fuck you, Aimee! You’re nothing but a worthless, stupid piece of shit! You always were. You know why I left you for Tiffany? Because she knows how to please a guy. She …”
The rest of it was cut off by Kiki, staring at the phone with a look of extreme distaste on her face, her finger on the red disconnect button.
Aimee was in shock - standing stock still and as white as a sheet, except for two splotches of color high on her cheekbones. Her hand fluttered to her neck. “Oh … my god … how … humiliating … ” Tears sprang to her eyes before she dropped her face into her hands and started bawling.
Elizabeth went over quickly and put her arms around her friend. “Oh, Aimee, ignore that asshole. He is so, so ugly inside. None of that garbage was true … none of it!”
“How do you know?” spat Aimee angrily, dropping her hands awkwardly. “He knows me better than anyone!”
“He doesn’t know you at all, Aimee,” argued Kiki. “I might not have slept with you, but I know for a fact you’re a passionate person. Anyone can see that about you. If you weren’t any good in bed it’s because your partner sucked, not because of you. It takes two, you know.” Kiki started pacing around her room. “I hate guys like that … taking their inadequacies out on the women they’re supposed to love. What the hell is wrong with that guy?” She stopped her pacing and came over to join Elizabeth and Aimee. Elizabeth released Aimee from her hug halfway to give Kiki access.
Kiki put her hands on either side of Aimee’s face, forcing her to look into her eyes. “You listen to me. I’m not kidding. You are a gorgeous, lovable, amazing woman, who can bake her ass off. You are not the problem here. You are not the one with zero morals. You are not the one who destroyed your marriage.” She dropped Aimee’s face to take her shoulders and continued. “Your only problem is you’re too nice. You put up with his shit for too long, and he took advantage of that. But never again.” She shook her friend once gently. “Say it now, so I know you’re listening.”
“Say what,” she said sniffling.
“Say, ‘Never again’. Loudly.”
Elizabeth nudged her.
“Never again,” Aimee whispered.
“No. Not good enough. Do it again, louder.”
“Never again,” Aimee said in a conversational tone.
“Sorry. Lame. Do over.”
Aimee smiled a little. “Never again.” She sounded firmer this time.
“You can do better. He cheated on you with a slut half your age. He bought himself an Aston Martin and made you drive a Toyota, for chrissakes.”
“Hey, I like my Toyota,” said Aimee in mock offense.
“Aimee!”
“Okay, fine. Never again! There, are you happy?”
“One more time. With gusto.”
“Never again!” she shouted.
“I like that,” said Elizabeth, encouraging her. “It has a nice ring to it.”
“Never again am I going to be your doormat!” Aimee yelled.
Kiki hugged her hard and fast before stepping back. “You’re going to be just fine, Aims. You’ll see. You just need to get back up on that horse and give it a ride.”
“With a certain cop, I think,” added Elizabeth.
“I’m not sure …,” said Aimee.
“I am. Call him,” said Kiki, holding up Aimee’s phone.
“Right now? What should I say?”
“Tell him you want to meet him. Tonight.”
“He already said he wanted to meet after his shift.”
“Good,” said Elizabeth. “Now just find out where and when. And make sure it’s a date and not just a thank you for saving me kind of thing.”