Page 69 of You Again

I’m certain I’ll have to endure at the very least another thirty-five when Rosalie says, “It’s time to go. Zev has to get up early… To bank. Because he banks. And right after he banks, he… soccers. Busy. Busy.” She swallows. “Right, sweetheart?”

There’s no way I’m going to argue with getting out of here. “Right.” I glance over at Margo, who weaved her own unhappy marriage, and then to Robert, who never deserved my Rosalie. I nod. “Let’s never do this again.”

But Robert doesn’t seem to notice what I’ve said. He simply looks at my girl. “I’ll text you. I’m glad we could catch up,” he says to Rosalie—in front of me, in front of his wife. This guy.

I slap a hand to the table and stand, my leg killing me. “You will not text her. There will be no more catching up. Got it? You’ve got a wife, and by the grace of the Almighty, it isn’t Rose.”

Robert chuckles to himself. “One beer and Zev is entertaining.”

“Here,” I say, handing Rosalie my keys. “You drive.”

She wraps her fingers around my Audi fob, her eyes darting from me to Robert and back.

“One beer and Zev can’t drive home?” Another snicker spouts from Robert’s mouth. “Lightweight.”

My body tenses. I’ve made it an entire meal without pummeling Robert Pattinson. But I’m not sure I can make it a minute more.

Rosalie’s hand wraps around my forearm like she used to, like maybe she’s read my mind. “Let’s go, Zev. I want to go.”

I grind my teeth and nod, ready to escape.

She keeps her hand linked in mine all the way out to the car. She unlocks the door with my fob, but I’ve followed her to the driver’s side. I open the door, letting her in, and walk around to the passenger side. For the record, I’m fine. But I rarely consume alcohol, and when it comes to Rosalie, I’m overly cautious.

I open the door and Rosalie’s talking. For a second, I think she’s taken a call.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t realize.” She shakes her head and mumbles.

I find her phone in the cupholder of my middle console. It’s black. She’s talking to herself. I settle into my seat and buckle up. “Are you okay? Do you need me to drive?”

“I’m okay. I’m—” She searches the dash of my car. “I’m fine. Where are we going?”

“Did you want to do something else?”

“No. Not really. That was exhausting. Maybe we could just talk.”

I nod, taking her in. She has no idea how good that sounds. It’s like a reward after the longest forty minutes of my life. “My apartment isn’t too far away. If you’re okay with that. You can leave whenever you want. We can meet up tomorrow so I can get my car back.”

I wait for her to reject the idea. But she simply nods. “Okay.”

“Do you remember where to go?” While she hasn’t been in my place since before the accident, we did spend time on the roof less than a week ago.

“Yeah.” She puts the car in reverse, and then her chatter starts up again. “He was flirting with me. He winked at me. He’s married.”

“Did you expect him to be different, Rose? He asked you out.”

“He asked us out. Double date. I…I don’t know what I expected. Maybe to see him with someone else. And maybe that would break my heart, but at least it would push me in the direction of moving on. He cheated on me. You know?”

I swallow. I do know. But I can’t say that. The way she says it sounds like she’s hearing it for the first time, though I know Fran’s told her. I don’t think her revelation in this moment needs me to contribute.

Her face is flushed and her breaths come quick. “I was in denial. I never thought Robert capable of being so…”

“Sleazy? Scummy? Dirt-baggish?” I provide, knowing I should just keep my mouth shut.

“Yes.” She turns right, smacking her hand on the steering wheel. “All those things. I—I couldn’t see it before. But he is all of those things.” She flattens one hand to her stomach, keeping the other on the wheel. “He talked down about his wife’s career—my career.” She throws a glance my way. “I am an elementary teacher, Zev. Did I ever tell you?”

“Ah, you mentioned teaching. But you said secondary.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a thing.” Her cheeks are rosy with her rant. “I just can’t believe that was Robert.” She pulls in a breath through her nose, long and deep. “He—” She blows the breath out. “He was awful.”