“You’rethe asshole,” I cry, even though I agree with her. “You made me look like I was targeting him in a fucking scam.”
“Okay, you can’t talk to me like that. You’re my best friend.”
“IthoughtI was your best friend,” I retort. “But it turns out I’m just the sidekick you use as fodder for clicks.”
Her mouth drops open.
“Whoa, hold on. I admit I fucked up but you know it wasn’t malicious. Youknowme,” she cries.
The same words I used on Felix.
And she’s right.
I can be angry, but I’m not going to treat her like he treated me. Whatever she intended, it was not to hurt me.
“Okay, Lauren, yeah. I know you. But I’m unraveling here.”
She comes closer and takes my hands in both of hers. “Baby, why are you this upset?”
“Because Felix is the first person I’ve liked in months,” I erupt, pulling my hands away from her. “And now he hates me.”
“Look, again, I fucked up, okay?” she says. “I wish to God I hadn’t done it. But honey,” she makes her voice soft and gentle. “I knew you were so stressed about money and I just wanted to help. I want you to be happy.”
I know, deep down, that Lauren means what she says. I trust her. We’ve loved each other too long and hard for it not to be unconditional.
But I still think her judgment was deranged, and I’m not ready to be over it yet.
“I need some space,” I say. “I’m going to breakfast.”
I turn around and walk out of the room without even bothering to wash my face or change out of my pajamas. I need carb therapy. Immediately.
I grab a plate as soon as I reach the buffet and start piling it with pastries. I’m not even going to pretend I’m interested in balancing them out with fruit or yogurt. I’m scanning the room for an open table when I hear my name.
I look over to see Gabe standing and waving at me.
And he’s with his grandmother.
Gabe approaches me with a huge smile that contains no acknowledgment of the fact that I literally fled from him the last time I saw him. “Good morning!” he says. “Gran and I just sat down. Come join us.”
Maeve is looking at me expectantly from the table.
I don’t have an elegant out.
But there’s no way I can do this.
I cram the rest of my muffin into my mouth.
“Sorry, I have to go,” I say. “Give Maeve my best.”
But before I can flee, Gabe waves at someone over my shoulder.
I turn, and it’s Felix. He nods and walks past, looking at the two of us in something like bitter amusement.
Fantastic. Now I’m sure he has concluded I was lying about Gabe too.
I want to cry again.
“Is something wrong, Hope?” Gabe asks. “You seem upset.”
