Pay Me, I'm Yours

Chapter 16 - Foursome

Chapter 16 - Foursome

"Did you know that you should never look at anyone's eyes when eating a banana?"

"Oh-kay," Art said, staring at me like I have lost my mind. "I'm not sure what that means but I'm guessing that's not what you wanted to talk about."

"Aubrey said he loves me," I said, and took a sip of my coffee. "And now, I'm afraid that it will fuck everything up."

"Why would it?" she asked, and stirred some mocha-flavored creamer into her cup.

"Because he'd been my best friend my entire life," I informed her.

"And now, you two are gonna be lovers."

"Frankly, I don't see that happening." I sat back heavily and absently swirled my black coffee with a teaspoon. "Besides, there's Tobie to think of. She'd been in love with him for the longest time."

"Well, I didn't know about that," Art said quietly and blew a cooling breath on her drink. "What are you going to do now? I mean, about Gale."

Even though I saw Gale kissing another woman with my own eyes, I still couldn't believe that he would actually do that to me. Raw emotions burned in my entire being and I concentrated more between anger and pain. I shook my head in resignation. "Tell him about it, maybe. I don't know. I'm still pretty shocked myself."

Art leaned forward and set her cup and saucer on the mahogany coffee table. Leaning slightly towards me, she asked, "Honey, is it really a complete shock?"

"Of course it is." I slammed the teaspoon a bit forcefully in frustration. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I always thought he was in love with you."

My head shot up and I looked at my friend, sitting in my balcony, on my barrel chair.

Her gaze slid away.

"How long have you known?"

"Since you first introduced him to me," she confessed.

"And you didn't tell me?"

Art reached for the delicate silver tongs and added a sugar cube to her cup. "It wasn't in my place to say. And I figured you must already know on some level."

"I didn't."

"You never suspected?" She hedged. "He was always picking you up for donoughts and stuff."

I dragged a hand through my hair. "We've been doing that since forever. It's just routine."

"Does he still have the habit of holding your hand?"

"Yeah. But best friends do that."

Art didn't say a word. She didn't have to. Her raised brow spoke for her.

"He dates other women," I pointed out desperately."

Art scowled and shook her head. "You're grasping straws, Jamison."

"He just can't fall in love with me, Art." I sighed, thinking about what a fucked up deal Aubrey's going to get if for some miracle, I let him love me. "I'm a broken woman. Hell, I even fell for a man who turned out to be gay."

"No, Keira," she assured me. "You're perfect just the way you are. You've been dealt with a bad hand but you have never backed down. You also got a great career and raised a great woman."

I snorted.

"Believe me," Art added. "David was the prick. Someday, you'll find someone who'll sweep you off your feet."