stare on me. “What the hell are you fucking playing at A? Have you lost your god damn mind?”
Jonah’s hand gripped my hip as he pulled me closer. Rising on my tiptoes, I pressed a reassuring kiss to his chin before moving from his hold and grasping my friend’s arm. “That’s enough Charlotte,” I said in a low voice. “I get that you’re pissed and that’s fine. But disrespecting me in public is way out of line and unacceptable.”
“Me, disrespect you?” her voice was laced with sarcasm, “you crawling back to a man who not only fucked you for your money but did that while he was engaged to another woman smacks of disrespect Ava, to yourself. I thought you were better than that.”
Prying eyes and inquisitive passers by began to pay more attention to the four of us now than I was comfortable with. Not letting go of her arm, I caught sight of a quiet coffee shop to the side of the terminal. “We need five minutes,” I told both men who stood weighing each other up in silence. Nodding towards the small cafe area, I tugged on Charlotte’s arm and moved us through the amassing crowd of passengers.
***
Red hot espresso slipped down my throat with an instant calming effect. Sitting cross legged with her arms folded over her chest, Charlotte’s anger showed no signs of dissipating. It seemed there were things even a shot of fresh caffeine were unable to tamper with and her disgust in my choice of flight chaperone was clearly visible. I sighed, took another hit of my long term drug of choice and looked her dead on.
“I’m sorry you had to find out about Jonah this way. I wanted to tell you when we spoke earlier but chickened out.”
“Why, Ava, of all the men you could choose, why the hell are you giving that lying scum a second chance?” Charlotte shook her head in dismay. “I should never have let you go off alone while you were so vulnerable. Men like Jacobson know all the strings to pull when women are at their weakest and lowest point.”
“I love him Charlotte,” I took another sip of coffee. “There’s nothing more to say.”
Rolling her eyes, she breathed in and tipped her head backwards. “That man has no idea what love is. You’re a financial means to an end my poor deluded friend and nothing more.”
“That speech coming from the friend who lives rent free in my home and is more than happy to accept handouts and eats, warms and bathes herself all at my expense, is damn fucking rich don’t you think?” I hated myself the moment the words tripped from my tongue. Shock resounded across my one true friend’s face as the bitterness hit her full on. Shock turned to hurt, her eyes filling with wet tears. I owed the woman before me everything and her family even more. The strain of the last few weeks still had me off balance but that did not excuse my verbal assault. Reaching across the table I clutch her cool hand in mine and squeeze. “God I’m so sorry for saying that, sweetie. I had no fucking right and didn’t mean a word of it. Forgive me.”
Swiping at her eyes with her free hand, Charlotte sat straighter in her chrome framed chair. “Firstly, I am not and never have been a leach Ava, and the fact you think so after all I’ve done for you over the years hurts like a bitch. I don’t care shit for your money or your charity. I really thought we were friends and in my book friends help each other out when times are tough and god knows I’ve had plenty of tough times recently and so have you. And secondly, that fucker hurt you, which means he also hurt me. Forgive me for not welcoming him back into your life with open arms.”
“I love him Charlotte.” They were the only words I could speak but they were the most truthful three words to ever leave my lips.
The hardness in her eyes remained, “I know you love him, A, that’s why you keep falling for his bullshit.”
Shaking my head, I released her hand and sank into my chair, “Jonah explained everything. Things are
Jonah’s hand gripped my hip as he pulled me closer. Rising on my tiptoes, I pressed a reassuring kiss to his chin before moving from his hold and grasping my friend’s arm. “That’s enough Charlotte,” I said in a low voice. “I get that you’re pissed and that’s fine. But disrespecting me in public is way out of line and unacceptable.”
“Me, disrespect you?” her voice was laced with sarcasm, “you crawling back to a man who not only fucked you for your money but did that while he was engaged to another woman smacks of disrespect Ava, to yourself. I thought you were better than that.”
Prying eyes and inquisitive passers by began to pay more attention to the four of us now than I was comfortable with. Not letting go of her arm, I caught sight of a quiet coffee shop to the side of the terminal. “We need five minutes,” I told both men who stood weighing each other up in silence. Nodding towards the small cafe area, I tugged on Charlotte’s arm and moved us through the amassing crowd of passengers.
***
Red hot espresso slipped down my throat with an instant calming effect. Sitting cross legged with her arms folded over her chest, Charlotte’s anger showed no signs of dissipating. It seemed there were things even a shot of fresh caffeine were unable to tamper with and her disgust in my choice of flight chaperone was clearly visible. I sighed, took another hit of my long term drug of choice and looked her dead on.
“I’m sorry you had to find out about Jonah this way. I wanted to tell you when we spoke earlier but chickened out.”
“Why, Ava, of all the men you could choose, why the hell are you giving that lying scum a second chance?” Charlotte shook her head in dismay. “I should never have let you go off alone while you were so vulnerable. Men like Jacobson know all the strings to pull when women are at their weakest and lowest point.”
“I love him Charlotte,” I took another sip of coffee. “There’s nothing more to say.”
Rolling her eyes, she breathed in and tipped her head backwards. “That man has no idea what love is. You’re a financial means to an end my poor deluded friend and nothing more.”
“That speech coming from the friend who lives rent free in my home and is more than happy to accept handouts and eats, warms and bathes herself all at my expense, is damn fucking rich don’t you think?” I hated myself the moment the words tripped from my tongue. Shock resounded across my one true friend’s face as the bitterness hit her full on. Shock turned to hurt, her eyes filling with wet tears. I owed the woman before me everything and her family even more. The strain of the last few weeks still had me off balance but that did not excuse my verbal assault. Reaching across the table I clutch her cool hand in mine and squeeze. “God I’m so sorry for saying that, sweetie. I had no fucking right and didn’t mean a word of it. Forgive me.”
Swiping at her eyes with her free hand, Charlotte sat straighter in her chrome framed chair. “Firstly, I am not and never have been a leach Ava, and the fact you think so after all I’ve done for you over the years hurts like a bitch. I don’t care shit for your money or your charity. I really thought we were friends and in my book friends help each other out when times are tough and god knows I’ve had plenty of tough times recently and so have you. And secondly, that fucker hurt you, which means he also hurt me. Forgive me for not welcoming him back into your life with open arms.”
“I love him Charlotte.” They were the only words I could speak but they were the most truthful three words to ever leave my lips.
The hardness in her eyes remained, “I know you love him, A, that’s why you keep falling for his bullshit.”
Shaking my head, I released her hand and sank into my chair, “Jonah explained everything. Things are
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