“Why what?”
“Why are you trusting that asshole?”
She sighed. “Because he knows what he’s talking about, and he hasn’t lied to me.” She shrugged. “I’m sure you’re not used to men telling you the truth.”
Grant put a hand to his chest and groaned. “Ouch, that one hurt.”
She snorted. “Oh, please, I doubt anything hurts you.”
Putting the spoon into her cup, she stirred the teabag.
“It looks like piss,” Grant said.
“It does not.”
“I’ll have a coffee.”
She was about to tell him to make it him damn self but decided against it. After grabbing a cup from the cupboard, she started to make him a coffee. He liked his sweet with no cream or milk.
After handing him the cup, she picked up her own and walked into the sitting room. With it being her first day off from exercising and work, she’d opted for a pair of pajama bottoms with little Christmas trees on as well as a shirt that said Merry Christmas on it. With Grant present, she’d also opted for a bra. If he hadn’t been around, she would’ve been without a bra, no question.
Sniffing her herbal tea, she couldn’t deny the smell was kind of gross. She’d never drunk tea with that slightly bitter taste. It wasn’t good.
Jase had told her to give it a try, and seeing as she trusted him, that was exactly what she did.
“You’re struggling to drink that,” Grant said, putting his mug on the coaster.
“Put the movie on. We don’t have to talk about your predilections to a hot beverage.”
Grant grabbed the DVD. She couldn’t remember what film they had decided on first, but he put the movie into the player and grabbed the remotes.
She continued to sip at her tea and with each taste, she tried not to shudder. It was next to impossible.
The taste was gross.
It’s good for me.
So good.
“Why are you doing all this?” Grant asked.
“Doing all what?”
“With Jase. With the gym. You never did that through high school.”
“Please don’t bring up high school.”
“Look, I’m sorry I was a fucking asshole to you back then. If I could go back and change it, I would.”
“Oh, please, give me a break. You wouldn’t change it and you want to know how I know?” she asked.
“How?”
“When I came to work at the garage. The way you talked to me gave it all away. You think I’m fat and ugly, and a waste of time, right?”
“I wouldn’t say those words exactly.”
She laughed. “Is that because you’re afraid of being homeless?”
“Not at all.”
“In case you didn’t know, it’s not fun being stood up. It’s not fun being humiliated with some of the town to look on.” She pressed her lips together, trying not to think about Bull. Closing her eyes, she shook her head.
“Maddie, my brother is going through some stuff.”
“Don’t, okay? I get it, and I don’t need your pity. I’m doing this for me. I’m doing this because I’m tired of being judged for my size.” She nibbled on her lip. “I’m sorry, I just don’t want to talk about this with you.”
“I get it.” He held his hands up. “I’m a dick. You should know that.”
“I know you’re a dick. Can we just watch the movie?” she asked.
“Sure. Sure.”
The tea wasn’t going to happen. She tried to drink it, but it was so bad. There was no way it was supposed to be edible.
Halfway through the first movie, she was too busy thinking about Grant’s question. Maddie watched the movie, but she didn’t take in any of the story.
Being stood up, the name-calling, even her parents telling her she’d never get a man, and Bull’s final insult had been the last straw.
She wanted to be happy with herself. Looking in the mirror every day and saying she was beautiful and sexy didn’t work.
Tears filled her eyes, and she found it a welcome relief when her cell phone went off.
Swiping at the tears, she grabbed her cell phone and saw it was Hellen calling at the animal shelter. Instantly, she felt like such a bad friend for leaving her for so long.
With everything that had happened with Bull, she’d been focusing on just existing. On trying to be too exhausted to think.
“I’ve got to take this.” She walked toward the living room, giving Grant plenty of space so he could still hear the movie. “Hi, Hellen,” she said.
“Maddie, I’m so glad you picked up. I hope this is not a bad time.”
“It’s fine. What’s up?”
“Most of the volunteers are off sick. I need some help to walk the dogs,” she said.
“No need to worry. I’ll be right there.”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course. You know I love to help out where I can.” She wanted to hang out with the dogs today.
“I’ll be waiting for you. I know they’ll be excited to see you.”
She hung up as Grant pressed pause on the television, turning around in his seat to look at her. “What’s going on? Where are we going?”