Twenty Four:

My search for work began in the boutiques Downtown and ended up finishing at many offices in the city. I was desperate to work somewhere. To get on my own two feet and stop relying on others. I even re-applied for classes in the fall so I could finish in my Beauty Major.

After a long and exhausting day, I pulled into my driveway and entered my house. Patrick was sitting at the table eating a bowl of soup. “And where the hell have you been all day? I’ve called you like ten times.”

“Job hunting,” I simply replied, remembering that I had left my phone on my night stand in my room.

“Huh,” he mumbled while averting his eyes back to his soup.

Feeling the somewhat awkward tension in the room due to the recent events that I’m sure Jon informed Patrick of, I headed upstairs and picked up my phone off of my night stand. I did indeed have eight missed calls from Patrick, but I also had two from Jon.

I highlighted his name and held my finger over the call button, contemplating if I really wanted to deal with his drama at that particular moment or not, and then I finally decided that if I didn’t do it now, I was going to have to deal with it later.

I hit call.

After three rings he picked up. “Oh my God Cole, please let me explain. I’m so sorry.”

I interrupted him, “shut up I don’t need your bullshit. Meet me at the diner Downtown in ten minutes, and you can tell me how sorry you are there, and if you’re lucky I might even listen to you.”

“Okay.” He replied and hung up.

I did the same and headed back downstairs. Right as I was about to step out of the door Patrick stopped me. “Now where are you going?” He asked me.

“To deal with this bullshit,” I replied, assuming he would understand what I was referring to.

“Kay.” He said as I shut the door behind me and began on my way to the diner.

I decided to make take my time on my journey, so I pulled in ten minutes late. I opened the door and stepped inside the dimly lit diner that was pretty empty aside from an old couple sitting in the front. I saw him sitting in a table in the back, picking at his nails nervously. I strutted over in his direction and he finally looked up and noticed me. His features lit up and he inhaled deeply. I sat down across from him, placing my cell phone and keys on the table in front of me and I placed my hands on the table as well. He put his hand on top of mine, and I immediately pulled back. At this he looked somewhat shocked.

“Well, talk.” I said with an eye roll.

“I’m really sorry Cole, I really am. Giving her my phone number was the biggest-”

“You what?!” I shouted, obviously irate. “You fucking gave her your number?! Jon, you’re dating me. Why the hell would you do something like that to me with one of my friends? You told me that you wouldn’t do that to me. Are you serious?”

“Let me explain, Cole.”

“No Jon, I don’t think even the best excuse in the world could help me understand how fucking stupid you are.”

“Please, baby, just two minutes.”

“Don’t call me baby.”

“I’ll do anything. I’ll change my number.” He proposed.

I grabbed his phone off of the table in front of him and began looking through his inbox seeing that almost every message was from Lailya. I didn’t even bother reading them. That was all the clarification that I needed.

“Don’t bother. I’ve lost all trust for you anyway. We’re done.” I said while throwing his phone at him, “I can’t be with someone I don’t trust, and who would try getting with one of my best friends behind my back.”

He just sat there, mouth agape as I grabbed my phone and keys. I stood up from the table and quickly made my way out of the diner and into my car before he would see the tears falling from my eyes. I peeled out of the diner and began driving around. I then quickly dialed the first person who came to mind.

“Hey Sharpie, can I stop by for a minute?” I asked while sniffling into the phone.

“Yeah… is everything okay?”

“Not really. I’ll see you in a minute okay?”

“Yup. Bye.”

I hung up and began driving over to his house.

I pulled into his driveway less than ten minutes later. I shut off the ignition and ran up his driveway and into his house. He stood up from the couch, and walked over to me, seeing the tears and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “What the fuck did he do to you, Cole?” he whispered into my hair.

I pulled my head out of his chest and looked up at him as he tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear and wiped the tears that were streaming down my cheeks.

“He cheated on me,” I replied quietly as I let the tears flow freely.

His face filled with rage as he placed a delicate kiss on my forehead and placed his hand in mine. “Come on and sit down. You don’t need him. You’re way too gorgeous and sweet to deserve a guy do something like that to you. You’re better than him, and you need to realize that. Any guy I know would die to have someone like you.”

“Even you, Sharpie?” I asked with a smile.

“Yes, even me Cole.” He replied while wiping the last of my tears away.

Two Days Later:

“You ready?” Patrick asked from behind me, while I was doing one last glance in the mirror. My short, black cocktail dress hung tightly to my body, emphasizing all the right places and my sandy blonde hair was pin straight. My silver metallic heels were the perfect accessory as well.

“I think so,” I replied as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“You look beautiful, Cole.” He said, looking me up and down through the mirror.

“Thanks Hun.” I replied sweetly.

He grabbed my hand and led me out to his car. Shortly after, we pulled into the United Center where the Blackhawks Charity Night was taking place. I stepped inside, no idea of what to expect. Patrick wrapped his arm around my waist. “Don’t be so nervous, you have nothing to worry about.” He whispered reassuringly into my ear.

I just looked over at him and smiled.

I looked over to the table where some of the players were doing a meet and greet with fans. Somewhat thankful I didn’t see Jon. I didn’t want to know if he brought a date or not, and if he did, I definitely didn’t want to know if he brought Lailya.

We mingled with other teammates for a while, before I saw Jon standing in the corner talking with Coach Quennville. Alone, thankfully. He glanced over at me, jaw agape. I grabbed Sharpie’s hand giving it a slight squeeze. He looked over at me and noticed I was staring over in Jon’s direction. I quickly turned my head and glanced at Sharpie before Jon could catch me staring. Patrick then kissed my cheek and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“He’s watching,” he mumbled to me.

A few minutes later, I casually glanced over in his direction. He was standing by himself; but it looked like he was waiting for someone. My stomach dropped when I saw Lailya make her way over to him with a drink in each hand. I couldn’t take it anymore. I broke free from Patrick’s grasp and stomped over to her.

“You!” I shouted, not caring whether or not I was making a scene. “You’re a dirty, fucking skank!” I said while slapping her in the face. “How dare you do this to me? I did everything for you, you ungrateful piece of shit.”

She stood there dumbfounded with her hand pressed tightly against the cheek that I had just slapped. With nothing to say, like I figured. Both Patrick’s then ran over to me and grabbed me, holding me back.

“You might want to take this no good piece of shit far, far away from me, you liar.” I said harshly, while glaring at Jon and pointing at Lailya.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stood still, looking in my direction and it was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

“Well, you heard her Bro, get her out of here.” My brother said, motioning to Lailya.