I turn off the light, grab my purse, and sink into the chair, noticing this is a different nurse. The woman goes to grab the disgusting bag of puke-covered clothes.
“Can you just burn those?”
“Um, sure.” She puts them in the garbage while rolling me out. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, just tired…”
We turn the corner as Charlie and David walk toward me, and my heart sinks at their expressions.
Charlie, beautiful, reasonable Charlie, looks ready to kill me, but that’s nothing compared to her husband David, or Poet—that’s what the Disciples call him.
Rubbing my forehead as they both catch up to me, I mutter under my breath, “Perfect.”
“Oh, my God.” Golden eyes take in my appearance. “What the hell happened?”
“It was just a little slipup. You out of everyone should be sympath—”
“Cindy, not one fucking word,” David snaps. “Do you have any idea how worried Charlie’s been? Fucking overdosing? And don’t give me any excuses. I’ve used them all myself.”
“David, please, I’ll handle this.” Charlie puts her hand on his chest, which must calm him. He glares at me but stays silent as we exit into the large lobby.
“I’ll leave you here, Ms. Davis,” the nurse says awkwardly, and mostly I’m just glad she isn’t sticking around to witness this conversation.
“Look, Cindy, I love you. You’re my best friend and we will do whatever you need to get you help. We’re here for you—”
David’s silver eyes pierce me with their disdain as he butts in, “This codependent thing you’ve got going on with my wife stops now.”
Why didn’t I call my other best friend, Doug? I can see that even Eve, the queen of the Disciples, would have been better than Charlie and David. What was I thinking?
“I’m not making excuses. I’m so sorry I texted you,” I whisper, feeling guilty for worrying her and wasting their time and just, God, everything.
And while I feel like the worst friend in the world, and Charliedoeslook worried, I can’t help but feel resentful too. I mean, as many times as she forgave David and he was on heroin…
When Charlie just stays silent, making me feel even worse, my voice cracks as I say, “I needed help.”
David, his eyes narrowed on me like I’m a criminal, runs a hand through his light honey-wheat hair.“You’re fired. Charlie doesn’t have the guts to do it, but she can’t be in ten places at once. She trusted you with the diner, and this is the last time you fuck her and Joy over.”
I had one slipup in months, and he’s firing me?
I open my mouth to defend myself but… I know he’s right. In the past, I was a little unreliable, but that’s the past. I’ve gotten help. I’m mostly off the pills…
I don’t know where to look so I stare into the distance.
“David, we can talk about this tomorrow. I’m tired. Let’s just take her home—”
I don’t hear any more of what Charlie is saying, or what sheisn’tsaying—there’s no defense coming my way from her corner—because the room around me fades when my eyes connect with his.
He’s here.
For me.
My heart skips a beat when his gaze caresses my face then shifts to David as if he wants to put a bullet in his head. Suddenly, this doesn’t matter…
I might look like shit but my life is crashing around my feet, and I don’t know how or why, but the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen is fucking here and suddenly, it’s easier to take a deep breath. It’s easier to ignore my best friend. It’s easier to forget I just lost my job.
Golden brown hair, stark brows, glassy blue eyes, and dimples that make me melt.
God, he’s gorgeous, yet it’s more than that.