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Jules narrowed her eyes. “Is this a new rule? You were supposed to call me before agreeing to any new bullshit rules.”
“It’s not new.”
“No? So, when did this rule come about?”
Paige hesitated.
“When?” Jules demanded.
“Um, the night the first rules came about.”
“You didn’t mention it when you told me about those rules.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t want to. I knew you’d be … upset.”
“Upset? I’m not upset. I’m ready to flip a table, but I’m not upset.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re not upset.”
Jules went to grab her wine glass, only to realize it was empty. “Damn it,” she muttered, looking around for Anthony, who was nowhere in sight. After a few moments, she gave up and turned back to Paige. “So, tell me about this stupid elephant rule.”
With a sigh, Paige briefly explained David’s reasoning behind it—that the two of them focus on going forward, as the people they were in the present, and leave the past in the past, which included Ashley.
“That does make sense,” Jules said slowly. “But at the same time it pisses me off that you’re the only one who has an elephant to ignore.”
“I know. But that’s the way it is. I don’t have an elephant. Well, my abuse, but that doesn’t really count.”
“So, have you been able to ignore his elephant?”
“For the most part, yes,” Paige answered. “There have been a few struggles, but I’ve always been able to overcome them. Until last night. That was the first time I just flat-out couldn’t ignore it. When he asked me to stay … the ghost of Ashley in his bed was just too much, and I told him I wasn’t willing to spend any time on the bed he’d shared with Ashley.”
“Amen to that.”
“Honest to God, just looking at the bed where he and that bitch had probably gotten into all kinds of fuckery made me want to barf—”
“Ladies, here are your meals,” Anthony announced, appearing with their dinner plates in his hands. For a second, he was confused by their having switched places but quickly adapted, and after setting the plates down on the table, he warned, “These are a little hot, so be careful.”
“Thank you,” Jules said, giving him a quick smile. “This looks great.”
“Yes, it does,” Paige chimed in.
“Enjoy,” he told them. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
The second the waiter was gone again Paige rubbed her face with both hands. “Oh, for God’s sake,” she groaned, her words slightly muffled.
Jules picked up her fork and started to dig into her eggplant Parmesan. “Looks like you’re no better at keeping an eye out for Anthony than I am.”
Chapter 17
“I’m really fucking confused,” Evan muttered, looking down at the new mattress he’d just helped David move into the loft, then at the identical one they were about to remove. “What’s wrong with this mattress?”
“I’ve had sex with Ashley on it,” David answered matter-of-factly.
“And? Is it extremely dirty, or something? Because if that’s the case, then you need to find someone else to help you, because I’m not touching it.”
