2
As I drove down to see Jolene, I felt as though there was a damn war going on inside my head. I couldn’t make any sense of my thoughts, but I knew seeing my sister was going to help remind me what exactly my priorities were right now.
“I’m here to see Jolene.” I put my hand down on the reception desk, and the woman slowly raised her gaze to meet mine. She looked tired. I knew the feeling. I had barely slept all night, tossing and turning back in my own bed once I’d made it back to my apartment.
“Go right up,” the woman replied, waving her hand toward the stairs after she checked my credentials. I headed up to Jolene’s room and opened the door, plastering a big smile on my face so she wouldn’t guess the turmoil that was running through my head right now.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, wheeling over to me at once. “How are you?”
She wrapped her arms around me, and I swiftly hugged her back, closing my eyes and leaning down to inhale the sweet scent of her hair. This was why I had done this in the first place, that was what I had to keep reminding myself. This had all been for her, for her, for her. I would have done anything for her. Just not getting my heart broken.
“I’m okay,” I lied, deciding not to tell her about the breakup yet. She didn’t need to hear it, and I didn’t know how she’d react. It had crossed my mind last night that she might find out if Kristo decided to pull the funding to the home, but I was pretty sure he, at the very least, wouldn’t have a chance to do that before I got here. I didn’t think he would do it at all. He was an ass in some ways, but he seemed to genuinely like Jolene, and he must have known what a dick move that would have been.
The visit was good even if Jolene did ask a couple of times where Kristo was and how he was doing. I brushed by them, offering a few excuses, just wanting to spend some quality time with my favorite person in the world. I couldn’t help remembering how it had been when Kristo had been here, how he and Jolene had chatted, how they’d laughed, how they’d made plans, how I’d convinced myself things were working between us better than I ever could have dreamed of.
“Are you sure you’re doing all right?” Jolene frowned as I glanced at my watch and sighed heavily. I didn’t have work that day, but I needed to get the house back together, bed Toby back in, and get some food.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I assured her, even though I was lying through my teeth. “Just tired, that’s all.”
“You should go and get some rest.” She slapped me lightly on the arm. “Don’t worry about seeing me if you’re tired.”
“Oh, you’d miss me too much,” I teased, and she rolled her eyes.
“I have a life outside of you,” she replied in that classically teenage way she had. I nodded and got to my feet.
“In that case, I’ll leave you to get on with it,” I replied, and I hugged her so tight one last time before I left.
“I love you, Sis,” I murmured into her ear, and she squeezed me back.
“I love you too,” she promised. And with that, I was on my way once more.
Toby was still at Kristo’s place, and I had to stop by the grocery store in the city to fill my house with enough food to live on once again. I had to start my whole life over, and the thought of moving away from the comfort and calm of his apartment and throwing myself back into the bare-knuckle panic of my usual life was already exhausting me. Damn, why couldn’t things just be easy? He had come to me, all wrapped up with a neat bow on top offering to solve all my problems. And I had to go shoot myself in the damn foot with all of it because I couldn’t keep my feelings in check. I was a mess, a fucking mess, and I hated how badly I had screwed myself out of an easy life.
Making my way around the grocery store, I barely noticed anyone else in that place, so lost in my own thoughts until I heard my name and my stomach dropped.
“Amaya?”
I lifted my head and found myself face-to-face with a woman I hadn’t seen before. Despite that, however, she seemed somewhat familiar.
“Hello?” I wrinkled my brow at her, hoping I could get out of whatever this was quickly.
“You’re Amaya, right?” the woman continued enthusiastically. “Kristo’s wife?”
“Uh, yeah?” I finally managed, even though it hurt to acknowledge what I knew was no longer true. She grinned widely and caught my wrist.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed. “He’s been hiding you away all this time and then I run into you at the grocery store. What are the chances?”
“Sorry, who are you?” I asked finally, and she threw her hands in the air.
“I’m Cleo,” she replied. “Your sister-in-law.”
“Oh, right, yeah.” I nodded. “I think I saw some pictures of you when I was visiting your grandma.”
“Come on, we’re going for lunch right now,” she informed me, and my eyebrows shot up.
“I actually have a lot I need to do today,” I protested, but I could already tell there was no way she was taking no for an answer.
“I’m not letting him hide you away anymore.” She shook her head. “My friends and I are going out for some lunch just down the street. You’ll come with us. You’ll love the place.”