The Widower's Girlfriend by Marika Ray

Author:Marika Ray [Ray, Marika]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 45141890
Publisher: Marika Ray Publishing
Published: 2019-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

10

Jemma

* * *

My winged eyeliner is like an omen for today: why even bother?

After my twentieth attempt, I wipe off the jagged line with a makeup remover cloth and settle for a minimalist look of mascara and foundation. My friends won’t care anyway. To them, I’m just Jay, the tomboy they felt sorry for in high school and tried to mentor. A follower to prop them up. A charity case.

Walker was like a magnifying glass at dinner last night, highlighting all the ways my friends were disrespectful. Previously, I knew they were not so nice, but with Walker there to witness it all, I saw the truth of our relationship with startling clarity. They were nasty.

I just had to get through today and tomorrow and then I’d be done. I’d find a way to remove myself from their clutches. Fading into the background and then disappearing forever is my preferred method of extraction. Barring that, I’d have to put on my big girl panties and face the nastiness when I broke things off with them in plain terms. Either way, it’s happening, I’m sure of it.

Throwing my purse over my shoulder, I head down to the lobby to meet them. We have plans to go shopping, then lunch, then head back to the hotel for happy hour. I’m not a shopper per se, but anything is preferable to staying in the hotel and possibly running into Walker.

After last night’s disappearing act, I have no intentions of texting him again. He sent me a text this morning, but I’ve vowed to ignore it. I’ll make all the excuses necessary to my friends, but I’m not including him in my weekend any longer. Fake boyfriend act is over.

Because here’s the thing: last night opened my eyes to how terribly my so-called friends treat me. I’m going to do something about them because I respect myself. But when Walker ditched me at the hotel and walked away like he didn’t even know me after blowing my mind with that kiss? He made me feel the same way my friends do. Maybe even worse. And I’ve learned my lesson. No more crappy people in my life.

Period.

Surprisingly, my friends don’t mention a thing about dinner last night, or Walker correcting Amy. She’s a little cooler than normal with me while we shop, but that’s to be expected anyway. She’s gotten progressively nastier each year. Shopping turns into the perfect distraction, possibly because this is their happy place. By the time we make it back to the hotel, I’m feeling like I can survive this weekend without permanent damage.

“I’m going to run to the restroom real quick.” I place my one small shopping bag on an empty chair at the bar and head off to the ladies room. When I come back, the rest of the girls are already seated with their huge shopping bags piled on top of mine at the end of their row. There’s nowhere to sit.

“Uh, guys?” They swivel their heads to look at me blankly.

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