Gina Wentworth was my ex — known for the past year or so, as she-who-must-not-be-named. I had tried to make it work with Gina; whose family was close friends with mine. I’m not one to give up easily — just ask my triathlon coach — but in the end, it was apparent that it was not going to work out. I just wished it hadn’t taken her having a threesome with my two best friends to make that clear.
Of course, Mom didn’t know about that. Clueless about our problems, she continued to try to fix Gina and me up at every possible opportunity.
“Oh, hell,” I gasped under my breath.
“Watch your language, young man,” Mom scolded.
“What?”
“Asked innocently,” she mocked. “You said, h-e-double hockey sticks bent.”
“Sorry.”
“Apology accepted.”
Sighing, I cursed again, but this time only inside my head. This whole thing was going in a direction I didn’t like. Now, not only would I have to deal with my family, I would have Gina showing up in some sort of slinky gown that showed way too much and embarrassing me by trying to pretend to be my date and picking up on other men at the same time. What a nightmare!
Arguing with my mother was often a no-win situation, but I had to try.
“Why would you invite Gina, mom? Kicks and giggles?”
“Watch your language!” Mom admonished again.
“Which? Kicks or giggles?”
“Neither, I know what that is a stand-in for, and it is very rude!”
I was starting to bristle. “Ruder than inviting my ex to an awards gala in my honor?” I asked, a bit more pointedly than I should have.
She tutted. “Don’t be silly. It is time for you to stop fooling about and get serious and settle down.”
“With Gina?”
“I admit that she isn’t all that I would have wished for you—”
“Who is?” I asked, rubbing my temples as a headache started to form.
“But I really think she could be good for you.”
“Like cigarettes,” I said.
“Huh?”
“Never mind,” I muttered.
“You are thirty-nine, dear, it really is time you got married—”
“Or I’ll end up a spinster?” I snapped, feeling very done with this whole conversation.
“Don’t be silly, spinsters are women, darling.”
“You don’t say.” I rolled my eyes, knowing that she couldn’t see.
“Gina is coming,” Mom said firmly. The conversation was done, and I had lost.
“Fine, but don’t expect me to courtesy.”
I hung up before she could respond, knowing that it wouldn’t go well if I gave her the chance to get another word in. Better to leave her confused. If I could just come up with a way to do the same with Gina, I would be golden.
The only problem was Gina was a lot craftier than Mom, who had experience but not nearly as much guile. Gina had managed to gaslight me for the better part of two years. I suspected, of course, but she was very convincing. If she ever decided to give up her career in investments, she could have a sterling future as a super-villain.
It was important that my ex not get the wrong idea and think I wanted her back. I would have thought my parting words to her would have made this clear, but you never know how a megalomaniac might interpret things.
I needed a plan, and I needed it fast.
Chapter Two
Noah
I didn’t really have any addictions per se. Habits sure but nothing that would qualify as physical dependency — except for coffee. Not just caffeine, coffee, and the stronger the better. I could get caffeine all sorts of places that didn’t tend to cause paranoia and heart murmurs, but coffee just tasted so good. I jonesed for the java, and there was really nothing to be done but surrender to the dark roasted demon, lest I be unceremoniously torn asunder by pure want. When stress hit, that was when my habit came out the strongest. After talking to my mother, I needed something dark and sweet to take the edge off. Yes, a little pick me up was necessary.
Sitting in my spacious office on the fourth floor of our red brick building, I looked at the phone still in my hand. Opening the contacts, I scrolled down until I found Jim, my boss and good friend. It really was interesting how easy technology had made it to keep in contact with people. Even in the depths of depression and worry, help was only an icon tap away.
“Hello?”
“Jim!” I exclaimed, putting on a false cheerfulness.
“Noah?”
“That’s me!”
“What happened?” Jim asked gravely, hearing right through my façade.
“What do you mean?”
“You need coffee,” my friend said. “I can hear the strain in your voice.”
I smiled to myself, glad to have such a good guy right in the building with me. “Good call.”
Luckily there was a coffee shop right next door to our law offices. I don’t know if Jim planned it that way when he bought the building. He might have. He was as much of a coffee fiend as I was.