The Lies I Believed

Spa Day

No matter how hard I tried not to think about it, Taylor's comment about Asher kept coming to mind. I know Asher knew where I lived as a child, but how did he guess that I was really in Palm Springs for good? I'd always traveled back and forth between California and Texas to get a few people off of my back. Well, that's how Brad put it when I started to complain.

Asher's absence didn't make it any better. I wanted to know what he knew. I only manage to put together a few events before I start to confuse myself. There have been periods in time when I'd think too hard about what happened four years ago and I'd frustrate myself. The truth is always so far, but so close. No one ever wants to tell me the full story.

"You should have booked this place for the day," Isabella said. "I could honestly get used to this treatment."

"Same, girl." I sighed in content. The masseuse worked her away around the knots in my shoulders. "Unfortunately, they have to love you to let you book the entire place."

"Everyone loves you."

"I wish that was true. I lost most of my fans when I gave up on everything and moved to New York."

"Well, that was your call. You were trying to leave an awful situation."

"She's right," Sha'Kera chimed in. "You still would have lost some fans, because most of them were loyal to you as Luca's wife. You know there will always be those crazy fans who think you had Luca put in jail for nothing."

"Which is not true at all," Jade muttered. "Honestly, that's why women get a bad rep when it comes to domestic abuse. Once one woman lies her way out of something, every woman is guilty of doing the same. Even with proper evidence, we end up being the one in the wrong."

"But, you also have to see it from a guy's perspective. There are men out there who are plenty innocent and still get bashed for those lies. Even when everything blows over and the woman comes forward with the truth, he still loses everything he had."

"All we're saying is that you're still loved by people who genuinely want to see you succeed again in life." Isabella chuckled. "Imagine you popping out of nowhere to star in some raunchy movie with weird actors no one cares for."

"No, don't do that," I exclaimed. "I don't think I could ever betray my fans and lose my dignity like that. That's like saying I should have starred in Twilight."

"Twilight wasn't raunchy. It was cringe, but it wasn't raunchy."

"Exactly."

I don't see how any massage therapist doesn't laugh at the things people talk about. I would lose my mind. The things my friends talk about ought to put them in the hospital.

I looked at Natalia. She had her eyes closed, but I could tell she was listening to us. I wonder what's on her mind.

"Where should we eat after this?" I asked.

"Nat, can't we go to your restaurant?" Jade asked.

"Why?" Natalia opened her eyes. "Shouldn't Indian be on the dinner menu?"

"Then, where are we gonna go?"

"Can't we just go to Kenneth's again?" I suggested. "Kera and Rylie haven't been."

"What?" Isabella sat up. Her masseuse sighed, but kept a smile on her face. "How have they never been before?"

"We're both pop-stars, if you haven't noticed. They don't allow us to eat in diners like that." Rylie laughed. "I always have to sneak away to eat ramen and chicken nuggets."

"Same. It's never a dull moment when it comes to what they try to make us eat. I've been on salads and expensive steak," Sha'Kera said.

"Ugh, are they calling us poor?"