by Laila Cole
Chapter 9 – Jennifer
I woke the next morning with frazzled hair and a headache, half resembling a cockatiel. I called up Susan who answered promptly. “Hey babe, what’s up?” she said.
“A lot!” I said.
“Oh-Oh,” she said excited. “Three choices. Was your date amazing? Or was it amazing? Or was it amazing?”
I couldn’t think about Damien or our date with the divorce on my mind. “It’s official. I’m leaving Steven.”
“Forget about him. Tell me about Mr. Fabulous!”
“I’m serious Susan. Final decision.”
“Oh,” she said, backing her enthusiasm off. “What happened? Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“You’re going through a nasty divorce. You’re not fine. Stop pretending. I can only help you if you’re honest with me.”
“I know. You’re right. I just need a break from life. I’m too distracted, too strung out. Leaving Steven hurts so much more than I thought it would even though I know that it’s right.”
“Aww,” she said. “I felt like that after my breakup with Dan. It’s ok babe, it only gets better from here. You’ve got Damien right?”
“I don’t know. I think so. He was upset that I didn’t stay the night with him, but I just couldn’t. There was too much on my mind.”
“Wait a second. You turned him down?” she said, surprised.
“Well, yes, yes and no.”
“So you fucked him?”
For a split second I thought about him inside of me and smiled. “Yea, I did, but I didn’t stay the night with him. We had such a wonderful night and he’s such a gentlemen. It’s too bad Steven ruined it. He showed up at my parents and made a huge scene when I got home. My Dad almost killed him.”
“Dear god. Final straw?”
“Yep, final straw. Listen I called because I wanted to tell you something.”
“Juicy. Talk to me.”
“Damien asked me to go to New York City with him. And I’m going to.”
“You’re god damn right you are!”
I laughed. “So don’t be surprised if you don’t see me for a few days. I’ll be in the Big Apple. Hopefully Jeff will give me some time off, I really need it.”
“Jeff is definitely an asshole, but if you plead your case he might help you out. He has for me before.”
“I’ll try my best. Thanks for listening. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Word son!” she said in the most annoying tomboy voice I’d ever heard before hanging up.