~Joan~
I took a sip of the lemonade in front of me, glancing around the small Chinese restaurant where Brielle had asked me to meet her.
She’d insisted we meet after work, claiming she had something important to tell me-something that couldn’t wait until we were at the office.
I’d picked a seat facing the entrance so I could see everyone who walked in or out. I sighed, setting my glass down and glancing at my watch.
9:25 PM. So much for meeting at 9.
She didn’t drag me out here just to bail on me, right?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the door opened, and someone stepped inside-someone I knew all too well.
Rhoda.
She scanned the restaurant, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. Digging into her purse, she pulled out her phone, her lips moving as she mumbled something before bringing it to her ear.
Then her gaze landed on me.
Our eyes locked.
Her brows knit together, her brown eyes widening slightly before her expression hardened and she looked away. I swallowed, my throat dry despite the lemonade.
What was Rhoda doing here?
Before I could process it, she was walking toward me. Her footsteps were steady, her face unreadable.
“Is this seat taken? I just need to sit for a minute,” she said.
I shook my head. “It’s not.”
She sighed, sliding into the seat across from me, her fingers flying over her phone screen. I tried not to stare, shifting my gaze back to the entrance, pretending to check the time again.
9:30.
Was Brielle serious right now?
Rhoda huffed, slamming her phone down on the table. I glanced at her.
“Jerk. He made me come all the way out here for nothing,” she muttered, looking away, her brows drawn tight with frustration.
I stayed quiet. This wasn’t the moment to bring up… well, anything.
I missed her. God, I missed her. Ever since she’d stormed out of my apartment, furious and refusing to answer my calls or texts, there’d been this ache in my chest I couldn’t shake. Seeing her now, sitting right across from me like no time had passed, felt surreal.
After a few minutes of silence, she spoke again.
“What are you doing here?”
I shrugged. “Supposed to meet a colleague.”
She snorted. “Really? What are the odds you’d be meeting your colleague at the same place I was supposed to meet Aaron?”
I frowned. “I don’t know. I was just told to show up here. Looks like I’m getting stood up too.”
She leaned in slightly, her eyes narrowing. “Are you here because of him? Did he ask you to come?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice tainted with confusion.
She leaned back, crossing her arms. “He asked me to come here and bailed. And now you’re here, pretending like it’s a coincidence. Is your colleague even real? Is this a lie too?”
The pieces clicked into place all at once.
Brielle.
Of course. She probably planned this with Aaron. She’d do anything to get his attention.
I let out a bitter laugh. “It’s not a lie. But there’s definitely a misunderstanding. I had no idea about any of this.”
I grabbed my drink, downing it in one gulp, the sour taste doing nothing to wash away the sudden bitterness in my mouth.
“No point hanging around,” I muttered, standing up and pushing my chair back. “I’ll just pay for this and leave.”
I’d barely taken a step when her voice stopped me.
“Why did you do it?”
The question hit me like a slap. I turned slowly, staring down at her.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, pretending not to know what she meant.
She huffed and pinned me with an unimpressed look.
“Don’t play surprised, I know you know what I’m talking about,” she said and I sighed.
“Because it was supposed to be a fling,” I said, my voice low. “But then I fell in love. I was going to tell you, but you were too busy with your boyfriend, so I let you live in blissful ignorance.”
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the heat rise in my chest.
“I was scared. Scared of exactly this. I knew you’d hate me. I knew you’d never want anything to do with me again. So I kept quiet. And your brother-” I let out a shaky laugh, my voice breaking. “He ended it. Left me shattered. But I guess I deserved that, right?”
The restaurant grew uncomfortably quiet. I could feel people’s eyes on us, but I didn’t care.
“I knew I was wrong,” I whispered. “But I didn’t want to lose my best friend over it. I didn’t want you to look at me like I was some-” I stopped, swallowing hard. “Like I was some girl who seduced your brother.”
I grabbed my bag, my chest tight, and made my way to the counter. I tossed a $20 bill down without waiting for change and pushed out the door.
The cold night air hit me like a slap, but it wasn’t enough. I kept walking, my vision blurring with tears I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I felt overwhelmed. Fucking overwhelmed.
“Joan? Jo-”
Footsteps behind me. I quickened my pace, angrily swiping at my tears.
A hand caught my wrist, pulling me to a stop. I spun around, yanking my arm free.
Aaron.
His dark eyes met mine, and that was it-the floodgates opened. Tears streamed down my face, hot and uncontrollable.
He reached out, like he wanted to comfort me, but I stepped back.
“Did you do this?” I rasped, my voice barely holding together.
He hesitated, then gave a small nod.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
“So you saw everything? Heard everything?”
Another nod. A small step closer.
I shook my head. “Then stay away from me. That’s all I ask.”
My voice cracked, but I didn’t care.
“I don’t want to do this anymore. Not with you. Not with her.”
I glanced over his shoulder. Rhoda was standing a few steps behind him, her expression unreadable.
I stepped back.
“I’ll leave. You won’t have to deal with me again. I promise.”
For the briefest second, our eyes met, and I thought I saw tears welling up in his.
Too late.
I turned and ran, letting the night swallow me whole. I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back.
As far as I was concerned, whatever I had with the Thompsons was over.