Page 45 of Not Mine To Love

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled and grabbed the shirt from his hand. I placed it on quickly and turned to leave.

He didn’t say a word. He just let me go.

I didn’t know how I felt about that. I decided not to think about it as I walked out his door, trying not to cry. I didn’t know what I felt worse about, that he didn’t seem to care that I was leaving or that I had debased myself to that point.

It suddenly felt like what everyone had thought about me all those years ago was true. I was a home wrecker. I was a bad person. I couldn’t even look at myself in the visor. I swallowed back more tears and swiped at the ones that were already running down my cheeks.

I didn’t know what tomorrow held, but I promised myself that I would do better.

7

“Where are you? You’re already late,” the annoyed voice demanded to know. It was Claire, of course.

I couldn’t get a break. That was what I got for not looking at my phone before answering it.

I stuttered, not sure what to say. Didn’t she know already? Hadn’t Julius told her the gig was up? Why was she calling, and why didn’t she sound MORE pissed off?

“I… I…um—”

“I didn’t know you had a stuttering problem. Anyway, hurry up and get here. Of course, I’m going to dock your pay for this.”

As abruptly as she called, she disconnected. I felt like that was how Claire conducted all her phone calls and maybe her relationships too. Maybe that was why Ana was afraid of her.

I sat up confused. Not knowing what to do and still feeling sorry myself for what happened between Julius and me a few days ago.

I immediately stopped following him after the incident. And I expected to get a hate-filled message from Claire about my apparent incompetency. But that didn’t happen, and I began to suspect that maybe he was deliberately keeping me in the dark. Maybe I was being ridiculous. He couldn’t be that vindictive.

But what did I know? I didn’t even know him. At one point, I thought he was a nice guy and then the other night happened. He probably could have easily said the same thing about me.

Sighing, I sat up and tried to figure out what to do. I planned to just sit around and not do anything. But then I got a text that succinctly told me that I would have to pay back all the money she gave me unless I was there in fifteen minutes flat.

Groaning, I tossed my phone with more force than I needed to and stomped into my bathroom, all the while trying to figure out what I would say when I got there… not just to Claire, but to Julius and Ana.

They loved each other. And I came in determined to ruin it. I was a prick.

I tossed on a dress and didn’t bother doing my hair. I added some sandals and left the house.

My stomach was tight as I made the short trip to the location.

I still had the itinerary, so I knew where the next event was. I thought it was some sort of dinner party, or was it the wedding invitation redo. Who knew?

I didn’t even bother to grab my camera, I realized, but I didn’t expect to take any pictures. What was Julius waiting for? To humiliate me in front of everyone? Or maybe to humiliate his future mother-in law?

Claire was there as I climbed the steps to the lavish house, a modern monstrosity of angles and shapes and glass. But I kind of liked it. It was different.

“Finally”—she looked me over and shook her head—“came dressed to impress I see?”

I shrugged off her sarcastic comment and said that I had been in a hurry.

“No kidding. Did you at least remember your camera? That is your cover after all.”

“It’s in my purse,” I lied. I didn’t even have a purse.

“And where’s your purse?”

“In the car,” I lied again. Gosh, what was wrong with me? I was a semi-adulteress and a liar. I felt God wouldn’t want to see me walking through the pearly gates. I was a disaster.

“Well go back and get it,” she commanded and then smiled in the direction of someone to the left of me.