002

" You did what?" Mabel shouted, standing up from the couch too fast. She had a look of disapproval written all over her face.

" I know it's just the two of us but can you keep it down?" I suggested, rubbing my temples. I could already feel a migraine creeping in.

After leaving Finn's house with a shattered heart and a bruised ego, I came all the way to my best friend's house.

I needed someone to talk to before I actually ended up doing something crazy.

The betrayal stung but what hurt the most is being called an embarrassment.

After everything I did for him?

I know that's a clinge line but it was true. I had done so much, sacrificed so much for Finn.

" Don't ask me to keep it down." Mabel snapped, frustration bleeding in her words.

" I can accept you ending things with Finn. After all, that bastard never deserved you or your love. However, I can't accept that you turned down such a good offer because of that ungrateful conniving bitch. " Mabel lamented.

I could not help but shake my head.

" Are you seriously my friend? I am heartbroken and instead of comforting me, all you can think about is a deal I turned down?" I asked, feigning being hurt.

" I do have ways to comfort you that include chopping off Finn's balls and feeding them to crocodiles.” Mabel replied, clearly seeing through my intentions.

“What I can't bring myself to think about is what you were thinking when you refused easy money.” She added, looking and sounding frustrated.

" Easy money? Dealing with Chase Hudson's annoying ass daily is easy money?”

Mabel opened her mouth to say something then closed it.

“ See, even you know the man is insufferable.” I pointed out.

“ In my defense, the dude is filthy rich.” Mabel replied but I shook my head.

“ He might be rich but he is also a bully.” I reminded her.

“ That impression of him you have is after listening to Finn's accusations.You can't decide one's character from one sided stories." Mabel finished, giving me a pointed look.

I opened my mouth to argue and closed it again because technically she wasn't wrong.

I had borrowed Finn's hatred towards Chase and treated it as my own.

Sure, the guy always had an inflated ego back in college. He loved to throw his weight around but that's all.

He'd never been caught in any indiscipline cases.

"Even if Chase Hudson is the devil himself, you would be his nurse. Not his friend or his roommate.

You are only offered a spot to be his nurse. You show up, you do your job, you collect your double salary and you go home." Mabel pressed.

"It's not that simple." I argued.

"How is it not that simple? Or do you think playing house with Chase is part of the job?” She mused.

"Mabel…" I shrieked. What nonsense was she spouting?

Play house with Chase Hudson? As if it was possible!

"Marion." Mabel leaned forward, elbows on her knees and eyes serious now.

"I have watched you pour everything into Finn for three years.

You made sure to attend every game.

You stayed with him through every setback and his mood swings.

You rearranged yourself around that man constantly and he stood in front of his friends tonight and called you classless." She pointed out,more like she reminded me.

Mabel didn't raise her voice at me. She didn't need to. "You turned down a career defining opportunity for someone who was already planning a proposal to another woman while you were driving to his house."

The words landed quietly but roughly like a storm.

"I know this might sound harsh but the reason you said no to that offer is gone," she said simply. “ But we both know that you desperately need something paying.” She declared.

I looked at her and said nothing because she was right. I was in desperate need of money.

"I know you're heartbroken and I'm not dismissing that.” She added softly.

“Finn was your person and he turned out to be someone else entirely and that is going to hurt for a while. But you don't have to let his choices cost you anything else, Marion. He's already taken enough."

Mabel outlined exactly what I wanted to hear. I was hurting. I was probably going to for days but giving Finn the right to decide my life even what he did was an abomination.

I exhaled slowly.

"He's going to be difficult," I muttered. "Chase is going to make every single day difficult." I sighed. Just thinking about his annoying smirk was enough to make my head throb.

"It's possible he will do that." Mabel agreed.

"But Marion, this is not about Chase but you.

That difficulty pays double though." He pointed out.

“ You know what the bonus point is?” Mabel asked and I shook my head.

“ Chase Hudson is fucking handsome and attractive. The number of women who dream about getting close to him could fill a hockey field effortlessly.”

I scowled at that but it was true. Chase Hudson was apparently a dream boyfriend for so many girls. He was always popular in college for being a Playboy. Rumours about his messy dating life often trend from time to time.

She smiled, bumped my shoulder with hers.

“ Imagine looking at that beauty all day long.” She added and this time, I rolled my eyes

I was ready to throw a sarcastic smile when my phone chose that moment to buzz.

I glanced at the screen

It was a call from Lisa.

My stomach dropped before I even answered. Lisa never called this late unless something had happened.

Mabel must have sensed the tension radiating off me. She placed her hand on mine and nodded. That simple gesture felt like she was telling me that she got me which I know she really did.

I accepted the call and the words that graced my ears had my heart twisting.

“ He is here.”

When the call ended, I remained dazed until Mabel's voice reached my ears.

“ You should accept that offer as soon as possible.” She declared.

I didn't wait to be told twice. I grabbed my phone and scrolled until I found the coach’s contact.

With trembling hands, I pressed the call button and waited.