The Girlfriend

Chapter 14

The Boyfriend: "I was mean to her. She's not going to be a problem. I promise. It's over."

The Girlfriend: "I still can't believe you lied to me. Did you think I'd never find out? Do you think I'm dumb?"

The Boyfriend: "I just felt..."

The Girlfriend: "Trapped?"

The Boyfriend: "..."

The Girlfriend: "Good. You should. You are."

The Boyfriend: "That's not fair, Laura."

The Girlfriend: "Get over it. That's how this works."

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"I am not going to lie to you, Sweetie. You looked like crap all day."

Abby sat hunched over her margarita. Even during her worst depression, she had stayed away from heavily abused substances, but it was taking all her willpower not to rapidly go through five cocktails in quick succession. She had gotten through the terrible workday. And it had concluded with Abby sitting in her car, watching them walk out of the building together. Max and Laura. Max had his arm firmly around Laura's shoulders. They didn't say anything to each other, only walked to Max's small green car and drove away.

Abby immediately headed to a nearby hotel bar to meet Tara. This one was nicer. There were men in suits and ties around them laughing over drinks, talking about how well they were doing at work, raises and promotions. Abby hoped she didn't cry in front of them. She felt so weak.

Tara leaned closer to her. "Come on. What is going on with you? Something with Max?"

"I can't even explain," she muttered.

Tara whispered, "Did you like have sex with him, and then he was a jerk?"

"No!" Abby turned red and leaned back. "I wish, actually. At least that would have made sense." She then tried to explain. She told Tara about the tennis game. And the afterwards.

Tara's eyes widened. "So he kissed you? Or you kissed him?"

"It was both ways. He definitely leaned down."

"Oh, God. That is kind of screwed up when he's with that other girl."

"That's not the screwed-up part!" Abby quickly told her the rest. Delivering the bag to his house. The screaming fight. The nightmare. The police. And Max in the breakroom.

Tara stopped interrupting and stared with bewildered eyes. At least Abby had confirmation that her story was beyond belief. Unfortunately, Tara's reaction was what she had expected. "Maybe it was the shadows," Tara said when Abby was finished. "Like the shadows made it look like his skin was messed up."

"But why was he in pain?" Abby asked. "I know he was on the floor."

"I mean, she could have hit him or pushed him. Women can commit domestic violence."

"No, but he was writhing and screaming. It wasn't like he had a bruise."

"And then he was fine when the cops showed up?"

"Yes," Abby admitted, looking down with shame. She knew how she sounded. "Then he was fine."

Tara rested a hand on her back. "Then you couldn't have seen that, right? That's-that's like magic, right?" She giggled nervously, as though she were afraid that Abby was having a psychotic break. "You couldn't have."

"That's why I feel crazy. I know what I saw, but it's impossible."

"It's impossible," Tara reiterated. "It can't happen."