Page 4 of Sugar
“Why do you think that?” Greer asked.
“I don’t think it. I know it. He said it to Mom during their last blowout fight. When he was trying to use it to justify sleeping with Bobbi.”
Ugh. Robert and Bobbi. So stupid. Even her name is bimbo-y.
I didn’t bother to say that out loud. The dumb couple had been together for four years, and we’d been making fun of them just as long. “We’ve been over that fight a million times, and you never told us that.”
Guilt coated her face. “I know. It’s a mess. Old news. Whatever.”
“It can’t be old news if it’s bothering you now. So what happened?”
“When Robert tried to put the blame on Mom, he said he only cheated because she stressed him out. That he worked so hard because Mom resented that he wasn’t as successful as your guys’ dads.”
“That’s bullshit!” I hurriedly looked around to make sure no teachers overheard me.
“That’s what my mom said. That his issues were his own, and then she told him where he could shove them.”
Good for Dina.
The practice my dad owned with Doug made good money—as far as I knew—but it wasn’t like Robert had been a door-to-door sand salesman in the Sahara. His bitterness didn’t make sense.
“Did they used to have money trouble?” I asked.
Wren shrugged. “I was ten when they split, so I wouldn’t have known.”
“You never heard them argue about it?”
I’d totally overheard my mom bitching at my dad about how much he spent on golf clubs and lunches. He would turn aroundand remind her about the extensive collection of purses and shoes that filled her custom-designed closet.
Then they would burst out laughing and say they loved each other.
Wren gnawed at her bottom lip for a moment. “They used to fight about money, but…”
When her words trailed off, I pushed. “But what?”
“Promise not to be mad.”
“Promise,” I shot back instantly.
Putting her hand on the table, Wren extended her little finger. “Like, pinky-promise.”
Again, I didn’t hesitate as I hooked my finger with hers.
“Robert hates your parents.” She glanced at Greer. “He isn’t big on yours.” She zeroed back in on me and forced the words out quickly. “But hereallyhates yours.”
The feeling is mutual.
I kept that to myself. “Why?”
“He thinks your dad is uptight and judgmental.” She rushed to add, “He isn’t. And Mom always sided with your parents and told Robert he was the judgmental one, but that just made things worse.”
My thoughts bounced around to connect the dots as I picked up the Diet Coke before changing my mind and giving the last of it to Greer. She needed it more. Her homemade drink had stufffloatingin it. “So, you’re worried that since money weirdness broke up your parents, it’ll do the same to our friendship?”
Pressing her lips into a thin line, tears filled Wren’s eyes again as she nodded. “Your house is only a little bigger. Your cars are only a little more expensive. If that tiny difference made them split, what’ll happen with John making crazy money?”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” I told her honestly.
“Gee, thanks.”
