"It happened once. One time, Pen. A year ago. A fucking year ago. I thought it was done with. It should have been over, but the girl... she took pictures. I didn't know there were pictures. I was drunk, but I don't remember pictures." Cody takes another drink from his glass. "She's been blackmailing me with threats to put them online or send them to Marissa. I paid her, but it wasn't enough. It was never enough money." He stares at my wall, lost in thought.From his marked up face, Marissa's found out. The question now is how. "When did Marissa find out, Cody?" I ask and take a drink myself."Today. Around lunch. I went over there to try and explain, but she wouldn't listen. She's crazy."Now I'm pissed. "Of course she's crazy, Cody. You slept with someone else. You're her fiancé, you don't sleep with other people!" My voice gets higher with each word."It was one time. One time! She's called off the wedding. Do you know how much we'll lose in deposits? I'll have to explain to
The keyhole laughs at me from its stationary position on the door lock. The opening is there, but I cannot get my key to fit inside. I panic. Did Finn change the locks on me? Did I break one of the apartment rules and not realize it? Did I walk past my possessions thrown out on the curb or have they already been picked over by the neighborhood vultures? How much would be left on a Saturday morning?"Your key is upside down, Aspen." It sounds like Finn's voice, but I'm afraid to move my head to guarantee it's him.My entire existence depends on keeping my body as still as possible. Any sudden movement and I might lose everything in my stomach right here on the floor. I worry puking in the hallway would violate Rule 6: No hallway adornments. Either way I can't imagine it would be looked upon favorably."Huh?" I question and hope the simple one-word response can convey what I need it to.Finn shuffles closer, as if he's approaching a wounded animal and I might attack at any moment
My shoe slams against the back wall of the closet, and I cross my fingers it landed near Finn's head and woke him up. Assholes do not get to sleep in on Sundays. I'm fuming. My actions might get me kicked out of the apartment if I don't get along with my floor mate, but I can't bring myself to give a shit.Finn walked out on me last night. At first I sat on the couch and stared at my blank television as my brain tried to process what had happened. Then I cried. I was dumped by a great guy for what? Because I did everything I could to help a friend get over her devastating breakup? I didn't cheat on him. I aged my liver a little faster, that's all. For my horrible indiscretion Finn decides I'm not worthy of him? Well, screw him.Any man who doesn't understand I would do whatever it takes for my best friend doesn't deserve to be with me. I don't know where Finn sleeps in relation to my closet, but I hope it's close. I grab another shoe to throw it at the wall and stop when I see the
HIS DOOR MATCHES MINE, but it feels harder as my knuckles make contact with the wood. Finn answers with a weary look. It heightens my pissed off mood."Aspen?" I'm not sure why he thinks I'm here, but I don't give him long to ponder it."You know what? Fuck you, Finn! You think I shouldn't help my best friend when she gets her heart broken? You think it makes me such a bad person you can't date me. What does that make you? You want to act as if I'm not worthy of you? Well your loss, buddy," I yell at him and then turn to leave.I've said my piece. I skipped over the part about being independent and it didn't sound as good as it did when I practiced it with Marissa and Amanda. Plus I'm shaking, but I said it without crying so it's a win in my book."You're not a bad person, Pen." He sounds upset. The balls on this man. He's not allowed to sound upset. He lost that right when he dumped me."Don't call me Pen. You aren't my friend," I fling back at him and then stumble over my o
I spot him as I walk out the main lobby door on my way to work, but I keep to my plan. My head held high, I reach the rear bumper of the black Escalade before he can stop me."Aspen! I know you saw me."Jake is older than I am and larger, but he's fit. I calculate my ability to outrun him and decide my odds aren't good. I have on tennis shoes, but I've never been much into distance running. Plus I have a gut feeling the man would chase me all the way to work if I tried to make a dash for it.I turn and a black-suit-clad Jake is two feet from me. The back door to the SUV is left open behind him. It's not Jake's fault Finn is an asshole. I don't want to be mean to him, but I'm not getting in the car. No way, no how."Sorry, Jake. I am going to walk today. I'm sure Finn will understand. I wouldn't want him to be around someone like me. I might talk him into making reckless decisions." I hate myself a little for the emotion that seeps through my words. I sound so catty. It's not no
The mention of Jake stirs my few remaining remnants of anger. "I don't want a ride, Finn. Rides to work aren't what you do with an ex."Finn flinches at the word ex. "I want to make sure you're safe, Aspen. I fucked up, but I would feel better if you had Jake with you. I understand why you won't do it for me, but at the very least do it to save all these sexy heels you always have on.""You think my heels are sexy?" Damnit, Aspen! Of all the crap to latch onto, I have to ask about the sexy heels.Finn perks up a small amount with my question. "Everything you do is sexy." He exhales or sighs I can't decide. "I'm such a dumbass, Aspen. I don't know what I was thinking. Please, will you come in and let me try to explain?"He opens the door wider. I shouldn't. I don't want to. But I do. I follow him inside. The door closes behind me, blocking a quick retreat.Finn's place, well I guess technically his friend's place, is larger than my 450-square-foot apartment. It's massive. My e
"Anyway, it was about a year into the relationship when it started to go south. In the beginning Britney was fun to be around, we hung out. It was easy. Eventually, it became obvious we wanted different things in life. Britney wanted to drink and party with her friends all night."She wanted to eat at the most expensive restaurants, buy the best clothes, take lavish vacations. But she didn't have the money to support that kind of lifestyle and wasn't willing to work for it." He hasn't moved from his spot, but his hands continue to flex into fist as he talks."I was a college kid who spent my free time playing video games. Britney didn't see who I really was. She couldn't see beyond the fact she was dating a Stanford guy. I was expected to graduate and get a high profile job to make her dreams a reality." Finn pauses, deep in thought. "Britney didn't come from a wealthy family, but she wanted to make herself one. I was expected to lead the charge."The seconds tick away and he doe
The boys are late to pick me up from work. Jake has never been late before. He has to be a driving frenzy through the city. I remember my last death defying ride when I was late for our first girl's brunch. I'm pretty sure Jake had the massive Escalade on two wheels at one point, which is a feat considering traffic doesn't move at more than twenty-five miles an hour anywhere in the city. Poor Finn.The black Escalade turns the corner and tires squeal as Jake speeds up before he slams on the brakes inches from me. The large vehicle lurches forward, the back door swings open, and Finn jumps out. He falls to his knees in front of me and latches on to my midsection with a death grip."Save me, please. Save me from his driving!" People stop to stare at his over exaggerated actions."Oh my God, Finn. What are you doing?" I start to pull him toward his black death trap, but he stands, laughing at my reaction. His cologne clings to me from where his forest green shirt and matching plain