I tried to explain that to Todd once and he didn’t get it. In fact, it made him angry, and I thought then his anger was based on the fact that I was talking about something he didn’t understand. Todd always got weird when he didn’t fully get something because he didn’t like to feel stupid.
I overlooked it then.
Called him ambitious.
Admired his drive.
But really, the guy was an asshole.
I’m better off without him, even though this hurts. Though the more I think about it, the more I realize that it’s my ego that’s hurting…and not so much my heart. Maybe deep down I always knew exactly the type of person Todd was.
And that feeling of things being temporary was a warning for me to run far, far away.* * *
“They’ve really added to the downtown.” I close the car door and look around The Square, which is the main block of Eastwood’s downtown. “Is that a splash pad?”
“Yeah,” Carly says, locking her car and putting the keys in her purse. “It went in about a year ago. After that new hospital went up, they started doing a lot of improvements to the downtown area. It’s really nice now, and my kids freaking love that splash pad. I love it because there’s a bar next door that serves half-priced margaritas during the day.”
“You lush,” I tease, smiling at my sister.
“You’d day drink too if you had three kids.”
“I day drink and I don’t have kids at all. Or a job right now.” We slowly start walking down the sidewalk. It’s nearing sunset, and the early June air is just warm enough to let me enjoy the night in a sundress, but not so hot that I have to put my hair up before my neck gets all sweaty.
“Have you talked to Dad?” Carly asks softly.
“Yeah. Mr. Fenton is retiring at the end of the year so it would actually work out perfectly for me to start coming in and taking over his client list.”
“Ahh, that’s awesome!” Carly grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Call me selfish, but I always wanted you to come back here.”
“Todd would have hated it.”
“Fuck Todd,” she says and then brings her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. Too soon? Are you still missing him? Wait, don’t answer. Let’s just grab drinks, walk around a bit and then go to dinner with no mention of him.”
“We can talk about Todd,” I say matter-of-factly. It’s a professional habit to keep a neutral face when talking about something upsetting. Usually the issues aren’t as personal, but I’m able to compartmentalize nonetheless. “And no, it’s not too soon. Because fuck him. In the ass. With an extra-large dildo and no lube.”
“I knew living in the Big Apple would harden you, sis,” Carly laughs. “But now I don’t feel bad telling you we never liked Todd.”
“We?”
“Justin and I.” She makes a face. “And Matt. And Libby. Jack is too young to form an opinion, but I don’t think he’d like Uncle Todd either.”
“I’m glad you guys told me before I married the guy. Don’t tell me Mom and Dad didn’t like him either.”
Carly wrinkles her nose and shrugs. “They never said anything even though I asked.”
I playfully nudge her with my arm. “You asked!”
“Yes! I wanted to make sure I wasn’t crazy.”
“We all know you’re crazy,” I retort. “I’m the sane one.”
“And that’s saying something,” Carly laughs and slips her arm through mine. “Until I knew that the little prick was sticking it in someone else’s hole—”
“Way to be crude.”
“Thanks. But anyway, before I knew that, I always thought he treated you well, but he’s just arrogant.”
“He is,” I agree, feeling sick to my stomach about it. His hot, alpha-male personality made him perfect for romance novels. Strong-willed lawyer who doesn’t take any shit? Sounds good on paper.
But in real life…he was just an asshole who put himself first regardless how it made others feel.
“I should have seen it earlier,” I start.
“No, no!” Carly says. “Let’s not do this. I just said he treated you well, and he did. Up until the end. And I’m sure he’s already realized that he fucked up big time and lost out even more.”
“He’s tried calling me,” I tell her. “I don’t want to hear what he has to say. Not yet at least. It hasn’t been long enough.”
Right as we pass by a bakery, the door opens, and a little girl goes toddling out. Carly stops short, her mom instincts kicking in fast, and she dodges in front of the girl, keeping her from running into the street.
“Emma,” someone calls after the girl, just a step behind her. “You can’t run away like that. You have to hold my hand.” A man I presume to be her father picks her up. “Thank you,” the man tells Carly. I tip my head, studying him. There’s something familiar about his face, but I can’t place it.