“But you have a fancy job. You must get paid loads. I don’t see why it’s such a problem. I would help you out if you needed it. But I suppose I’m a much better friend to you than you are to me.”
“Fuck you, Lucas.” I toss the envelope at him, and the money scatters out. For someone who isn’t happy with the amount, he sure dives to the ground quickly and grabs up the bills as if he’s a starving animal rooting around for scraps. “I’ve done everything I can for you, and this is how you repay me? Don’t you ever contact me again, do you hear me? Delete my number, cancel me from your life, pretend I don’t exist. I am done being your friend. I’ve tried to be good to you, to keep you out of trouble, but I’m checking out. This is me, done.”
“No, Jodi . . .” he cries after me. “Let me say sorry. I don’t want to end things like this.”
“No, you don’t want to end things at all because I’m all you have left. Had left. I’m out.”
His wails behind me make the tears stream down my face, but I don’t look back. I can’t. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to crack again. This is hard, but it’s the right thing to do. I’m at a good place in my life with Brock, I’m moving forward, so I don’t want anything from my past to affect that. It’s time to leave it all behind.
I gulp back the sobs as I step into the nearest cab to take me home. I feel deflated, empty, numb. Now all I need to do is go to sleep, wash this day off of me, and start again tomorrow.
* * *
The dawn sunshine bursts into my bedroom, making me bolt upright in bed. It takes me a couple of moments to work out why I fell asleep with the curtains open, but it doesn’t take long until it all comes rushing back. The horrible meeting with Lucas, all the tears, the emotional exhaustion, the collapse on the sheets as I came in.
I rub the sleep from my eyes and grab my cell phone to check the time. My heart stops dead.
Lucas: That was pretty fucked up, Jodi. I don’t know what sort of shit you were trying to pull then, but it hurts. Point proven. I get that I’ve leaned on you a lot, but everyone else has left me. Don’t leave me too.
Lucas: I’m begging you, Jodi, don’t leave me as well. I can’t handle it. I feel all panicky.
Lucas: Okay, now I can see that you’re just being a bitch. This is all some fucking game to you. Well, fuck you, this is my life. It might not be what you understand, but it’s MY life, not yours. I can do what I want.
Lucas: They’re after me now. They’re going to kill me. Can I come to your place? Where is it?
Lucas: If I die today, it’ll be on your head. I hope the blood washes off your hands easily enough.
Lucas: I’ve done some research on you. I know you’re with some rich guy now. What are you trying to pull? You could have given me a lot more than that money. I can’t believe you want me dead, you bitch.
Lucas: I know who he is now as well. Brock fucking Stanton. Is he your boss? You might think you’re being all discreet, but it only took me a few hours to figure it all out. You aren’t smart.
Lucas: They aren’t going after me anymore. They are after you instead. You’ll end up dead.
Lucas: Oh, sorry, did I say you? I meant your guy. He’s actually worth something. Unlike you.
Lucas: I hope you realize that all of this is your fault.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I try with shaking fingers to call Brock, to see if he’s okay, but before I can get to dialing his number, a message comes through from him. As his number flashes up on the screen, panic consumes me.
Brock: Hey, do you have any plans tonight? I was thinking we could go out for a few drinks. With some friends of ours? Get to know each other a little better . . .
“He’s okay?” I know Brock. He would have told me if not. “Oh, thank God. He’s okay.”
Now I just need to find a way to appease Lucas, to stop him from escalating this. I guess I can’t quite put my past behind me just yet. Soon though. I’m going to have to. I want that future!
11
Brock
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Millie. I’ve heard all sorts of things about you.”
I like Jodi’s friend already. She’s got a wide open and honest face. I can see why she and Jodi made instant fast friends back in high school. It’s just such an obvious connection.
“I’ve heard lots about you too. Thankfully for you, all good stuff.” She peers behind me and cocks an eyebrow. “Not so much about Josh though. Apparently, he isn’t the nicest guy in the world.”
I laugh as Josh shuffles uncomfortably. “No, well he’s trying to be better at that, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles. “I was just trying to protect you, that’s all.”