Page 58 of Completely Captivated
“Your infatuation with Jared, and his with you, for starters.”
“I’m not infatuated with him!”
“Maybe not, but you don’t do much to discourage him.Yet Aaron still tries to show you he’s the better man.Remember Jared dropped you off and hit the club with his buddy.Don’t think for a second that man went home alone.”
I loved my best friend.Sometimes I wished she wasn’t so blunt.Other times, like this, I was grateful she smacked me across the face with her words.
“You believe Aaron?”
“Absolutely.I’ve told you this.Jared already filed the divorce papers, didn’t he?”
“He helped me with them.I couldn’t ask him to do it after the mess I made of the annulment hearing.”
“Maybe I’m going out on a limb here, but I think you sabotaged it on purpose.”
I refused to get into this discussion with Allie.Because I wasn’t convinced she wasn’t right.I was more confused then than I’d ever been in my life.
“Do you know why you’ve mindfucked yourself so bad over this?”
My eyes closed, and my hand gripped the oven door handle until my knuckles were white.It was almost time to remove the day’s bakery items, but all I could think about was what she’d say next.I knew what was coming.
“Why?”I managed to squeak out.
“Because that nutjob you called ‘Mom’ brainwashed you into thinking you don’t deserve better.She was a sorry piece of shit who should’ve been sent away for child abuse and neglect.You don’t have to think about her again.”
“She knows.”
“What?”Allie’s surprised expression reminded me of a cartoon character.If her tongue could roll out like a red carpet, the look would be complete.
“She called last night.Out of the freaking blue.Someone found the request for annulment and starting prying into my life.The gossip news producer found my mother and questioned her about me before showing up at my apartment last night.That’s when precious mommy called—to ask for money.”
“Did you tell her to go fuck herself?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’m proud of you.Now, let me read the latest letter from your husband.”
I didn’t bother to hide them anymore.She found and read them anyway.
My love—
I remember the sparkle in your brown eyes when you walked down to the aisle toward me.I’ve watched the DVD of our wedding so many times, it should be worn out by now.
I remember when you first made an appearance in your wedding gown.Every other bride in the world paled in comparison to your beauty.I wanted you to hurry and say “I do” before you changed your mind.I wasn’t worthy of you then, and I’m not now.But there’s nothing I won’t do to become the man you’d be proud to call your husband.
Day Thirty-Five: I love the sounds you make when I’m inside you.
Forever yours,
Aaron
“Christa, you bitch.”
“I love you too, Allie.”
“If you don’t call him and at least talk to him, I’m taking him away from you.”
“The hell you are.”I rounded on her, my hands on my hips and my jaw set, ready to fight tooth and nail.
