“Heather, listen, I know you aren’t with Ellie or Ari. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t alone and that you’re okay. ”
“I happen to be perfectly fine. I’m on a date. Then, her voice sounded farther away. “I’ll be right there, Jerry, in just one second. ”
Jerry? Who the fuck is Jerry?
“You’re really out on a date? You move fast, Heather. ” I was so pissed off that I couldn’t even think straight.
“Me? How are you enjoying your dinner with Lynda?”
“We’re about to move onto dessert. ” Fuck. The second that came out, I regretted it.
“You’re an asshole. ”
I went to apologize, but then I realized she had already hung up. I wanted to scream and just throw my fucking phone. My hands were shaking, and I couldn’t stop seeing Heather dancing with that guy from last night. I turned back to my truck and got in. I looked over at Lynda sitting there, smiling at me.
“Do you want to go back to Austin with me tonight?”
“I thought you would never ask. ”
***
I dropped Lynda off, so she could pack up her stuff. I told her I would be back as soon as I could.
When I walked into Jeff and Ari’s place, Jeff was sitting at the kitchen island. He looked like shit.
“Hey, dude, how is Ari feeling?”
“I think she’s feeling better. ”
Fuck. “Jeff you need to talk?”
“It’s my fault this happened, Josh. It’s my fucking fault. I walked away from her…the one person I vowed to never walk away from. I just left her while I ran after some damn lying bitch. If I had just given her a few minutes of my time, I don’t think I would have left. I would have stayed, and. ”
“Jeff, stop doing this to yourself. You can’t change what happened. It all happened for a reason. I know you want to place the blame on yourself, but, dude, you can’t. You didn’t know Ari was going to tell you she was pregnant, and you didn’t know Rebecca was playing you for a fool. ”
Jeff snapped his head up. Oh shit, I should really choose my words more carefully.
“A fool? Is that what everyone thinks I am?”
Motherfucker. I didn’t need this. “No, Jeff, that’s not what I meant. You were torn, and I get it. I would have probably done the same thing, Jeff. How were you supposed to know that she was plotting against you? It’s all going to work out. I know it will. You and Ari are meant for each other, Jeff. Y’all will find a way to fix this shit. I promise. ”
Jeff put his head in his hands and let out a sigh. Man, this guy needs to just catch a break.
“Hey, um…I was going to head back to Austin tonight. I figured y’all need your privacy, and with Heather leaving…”
“What the hell is going on with you and Heather, Josh? I feel like I’m looking at an earlier version of Ari and me, dude. Just get it the fuck over with and tell her you love her. ”
I started to laugh. “I already told her that I loved her. She seems to think that I’ll never be able to stay true to her. I guess I can’t blame her, but fuck…what does a guy have to do to prove he can change?”
Just then, my cell phone went off with a text. Lynda had texted me with a picture of her in a fucking blue lace bra and matching panties. Fuck me.
“Actually change, Josh. ”
“What?” I looked back up at Jeff.
“You want to prove to her that you’ve changed? Then you’ve got to actually change, dude. I’ve seen that look on your face before. You’re gonna hook up with someone tonight, aren’t you?”
“I don’t need a lecture from you, Jeff. Heather’s made it very damn clear that she doesn’t want to be with me. Shit, she’s on a date tonight for Christ’s sake! What I am supposed to do? Just sit around and wait for her? Fuck that. I’ve waited long enough for something I’ll never have. ”