Unwrapped (7 page)

“Sorry to break down on you like this.”

“It’s what friends are for.”

Friends. I do want to be friends with him. Until now, he’s been my cousin’s boyfriend. But I want him to be my friend. Maybe more.

“So, where are you staying now? Did you kick Bobby out?”

“No.”

He tilts his head. “That asshole didn’t kick you out, did he? After what he did—”

“No, he didn’t kick me out either.”

“Oh. Sounds like you were way bigger of a person than I’d have been.”

Um... “Not exactly.”

“What?”

“We haven’t... I, uh. He doesn’t know that I know he cheated.”

“So you two are still together?” He releases me. “Hazel, that’s not cool.”

“I know! I’m an asshole!” I flop onto the bed and sit cross-legged, pulling my sweater over my legs. “Do you hate me now?”

“I don’t know. Was that all this was to you? Revenge?”

“At first, maybe. But I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know I like you so much.”

He crosses his arms and sits next to me, but at a distance. “I like you too. But you’re clearly not over what’s happened with Bobby.”

“And Courtney.”

“Yeah. So she told you about them cheating?”

I sigh. “I wish.” At his confused look, I stand. “Let me grab my phone.”

Chapter Four

My phone looks tiny in his hands, and I know I should look away, give him some privacy while he watches the video, but I can’t tear my gaze away from his face. He hits play.

A frown, followed by a horrified stare. “What the fuck?” Then his words dry up and his expression goes stony for the rest of the video. He hands my phone back when it’s done.

“This is how you found out they cheated?”

“Sometimes Bobby saves pics of things he wants to buy or get in a special folder. He left his phone at home, and asked me to bring it to him. I saw an opportunity, and I was looking for something to get him as a surprise present on our wedding day.”

“And found this instead.”

I nod, miserable.

“Well. I can’t blame you for what you did. I’m pissed and Courtney and I aren’t even together anymore. Who she blows is none of my business. But I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.”

Out of my mind? Preoccupied with revenge fantasies? “Yeah.”

“But Haze, you have to let this go.”

“What?”

“My advice? Delete that vid, and move on with your life.”

“You think I should just let Bobby get away with this?”

“I don’t think losing you is ‘getting away’ with anything. But right now he hasn’t even lost you.”

“Because I want him to suffer.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Not exactly healthy.”

“No, but it’s a big step toward feeling better.”

“How will not breaking up with him make things better? You’re not seriously going to stay with him, give him another chance?”

I scoff. “Hell no!”

“Then why haven’t you confronted him?”

The truth comes erupting from my mouth like word lava. “Because it’s not enough! I want him to lose. I want him to be the one filled with regrets, and left standing there at the altar while I gleefully shout, ‘I don’t.’” The words burn my throat, my stomach, my
heart
.

He shakes his head. “I know you’re running on pain right now, but you have to know that’s so far beneath you–”

“Well, maybe it isn’t.”

“No, it really is. You’re not this person, Hazel. You’re not
this
.”

“I am now. And I’ll thank you not to blow this for me.”

He looks at me like I’m a stranger. “It’s not an opportunity. Don’t let this turn you ugly inside, bitter and warped.”

I straighten and grab his arm, desperate for him to understand. “Please. Swear to me you won’t say anything.” His eyes drop to the floor. “I need this, Eric.”

After a moment, he nods.

“Thank you.” I gather my things to go.

“Hazel? Keep my number. You’re going to need it when this all falls to shit.”

I suck back a lungful of air to tell him off, but his eyes are serious, and his voice sincere.

I storm out in silence.

But later on when I’m safely back at the studio, doubt creeps in. Am I making it worse on myself by not ripping off the bandage and confronting Bobby right now, while the anger is fresh? I’m more likely to stick a feather in my ass and fly than I am to forgive and forget what he and Courtney did to me.

I can implement enough tiny annoyances that add up to drive Bobby nuts this week. I can cancel plans, cancel orders, change his carefully planned out wedding details. It will be glorious!

But is Eric right? What do I gain by waiting until the wedding and turning him down then? He’ll be out money, and it will be momentarily embarrassing for him.

But what will that look like for me? He’s not likely to just let me prance happily down the aisle after laying a bombshell like that on him. So there’s likely to be a big scene right there at the church. In front of everyone. My friends and family, and everyone there to support Bobby and me. I’m just going to look like a jackassy heartless bitch.

More tears. I’ve cried more today than I have in a year. I shuffle to the kitchen and grab another huge wedge of the giant chocolate chip cookie the pizza place had as a dessert when I ordered delivery. No soothing herbal tea to drink, but I did pick up some whipped cream flavoured vodka on my way home. I shovel large bites of cookie into my mouth and wash it down with vodka, straight from the bottle. Ain’t nobody got time to wash a glass.

Plus, I’m being energy efficient.

Back on the couch, I flip through the movie channels until I find something with Kristen Bell in it. I developed a huge lady boner for her after seeing her on a talk show crying about a sloth. She’s the sweetest thing, and guaranteed to perk me up, like my own personal Prozac.

The movie’s about Kristen going back to her old town for her brother’s wedding. She’s now a success, whereas in high school she was a losery loser. But oh noes! Her brother is marrying the bitch who made her life hell—only
she
doesn’t remember Kristen! I’ve laughed twice so far, so that’s a great sign. Plus, it’s not a romance, which is another big plus.

How do things go from amazing to shit so quickly? Is it fate? Karma? It can’t be karma because I’ve never done anything bad enough to justify this being my reward. Pre-emptive karma? Is something amazing just around the corner? Should I buy a lottery ticket? But let’s face it, karma isn’t real. If it was, good things would never happen to bad people.

Lots of good things happen to Bobby. We joke about how the lucky horseshoe up his ass must be uncomfortable. Good, hell, radiant things happen to him all the freaking time. He needs to feel some of the uncertainty, some of the pain he’s dished out so casually to me. Repeatedly. Did he even love me? Our relationship flashes through my mind like a bad montage. If he didn’t love me, he sure went through the motions well.

But how can you love someone and cheat on them with their family? You can’t love them. Not really. Whether Bobby fell out of love with me, or never loved me, the result is the same. So turning up at the wedding and saying, ‘I don’t,’ isn’t going to have the emotional impact I wanted it to. He’d be mildly embarrassed, but he can spin a situation like nobody’s business. Oh god. I take a swig of vodka, a little disconcerted to see that it’s half gone.

What if I enact my plan and waltz away, only for my friends and family to rally around that asshole? I can’t stay silent, or he might use that to fill in the blanks himself and garner sympathy from my loved ones, turning me into the bad guy. Goddamn it! I’m going to have to explain the whole situation, which prolongs the embarrassment.

More vodka. Ugh, I think something was wrong with that cookie, it’s made me feel a bit dizzy. Probably had contaminated chocolate chips.

And what was with Eric, looking at me like he was disappointed? He doesn’t even know me! Who’s he to judge anyone—he’d have just slept with me like I wasn’t in a relationship. My nipples tighten as the memories of his hands and mouth flood my brain. Maybe it was just the situation, but I haven’t been that turned on for... maybe ever. Maybe a part of that was because of what he said about my art.

This movie is hilarious. The mom has encountered her own rival, and shenanigans abound.

What if he’s right? Should I just let this whole thing go, and call Bobby? No, I want to confront him about it in person. I’ll only lose if I go with my original plan, and I don’t feel like detailing to everyone in the church—with the priest standing right there—about why I’m breaking up with Bobby, and firing Courtney from my life.

I grab my phone and fire off a text to Eric.

You’re right. My plan was stupid and wouldn’t have worked anyways.

I watch the movie while waiting for his reply, which comes seventeen minutes later.

I know. But we both know it never would have been enough. It’s better for you to move on. No revenge would be enough to repay them for what they did.

Well, he’s right about that. It wouldn’t have been enough, but I don’t know what would have been. But inspiration comes from right before my eyes. The movie!

In high school, the mean girl made a mean video and it showed her true colours, being awful to Kristen. It was for the time capsule. Kristen is going to get it, and play it at the rehearsal dinner!

Oh. My. God. It’s genius! I could arrange a video montage before the wedding ceremony, because that would have way more impact on the day itself. She was half-assing it and robbing the impact of the video by playing it at the rehearsal dinner instead of the main event. I’ll gather some sweet pics of us, and then slip in the vid mid nauseatingly sweet montage! It’s brilliant!

Are you going to tell Bobby tomorrow?

Maybe not tomorrow. I need a day or so to gather myself. I’m a bit of a mess right now.

Need to talk?

God he’s sweet.
No, I’m okay. But thank you.

Goodnight.

Damned right I’m okay. I’ve got a plan, and a buzz, and a third of a giant chocolate chip cookie! I’m walking on motherfucking sunshine right now!

Chapter Five

I think about Eric for the next few days. We text back and forth, and I float like a butterfly around the topic of the wedding whenever he brings it up. Light and airy and I just don’t let the conversation land there. I still have residual feelings for Bobby that I’m trying to pinch off—which is easier when, every time I feel sentimental, I just look at the video file. I’m not a robot, but love dies quickly when there’s video footage.

But Eric... He’s everywhere. A low hum of positivity in the background of my mind. He’s like a rebound without benefits. A friend without benefits? Each day my energy faces him more and more, like a flower turns to the sun. A painting springs up in my mind, and he lives inside it, but I can’t bring myself to put it on a canvas and let it go. I need him inside me for just a little longer to get through this week.

I don’t know how I never saw how incredible he is. It’s like staring at one of those 3D illusion pictures for months and seeing nothing but colours in a strange pattern, then one day BAM it comes into focus and I’m seeing him for what he truly is. But he’s Courtney’s ex, and I’m still not sure how I feel about that. I wouldn’t date a friend’s ex, and I don’t know if this would be better or worse.

Bobby’s only called me once since we last spoke. He asked me to call and reserve a string quartet (I wanted a DJ), and confirm the cake. I said I would, and I did. As soon as I found one who charges an exorbitant cancellation fee. I also changed the cake order from chocolate truffle with orange buttercream to fruit cake with a crème de menthe fondant. If he tries to salvage the reception dinner, the least I can do is give him a culinary experience he won’t forget. Oh, and the bill for changing the cake on such short notice is going to make his eyes bug out unattractively.

It warms my heart.

I’ve practiced my ‘I don’t,’ speech a few times, even though it won’t be during the vows. The video montage was easy enough to arrange, though I felt a tiny twinge of guilt that the eighty-three-year old Sunday School teacher is the one who will be queuing it up, so she’ll see it too. I hope her pacemaker can handle it. I couriered the DVD to her yesterday. I expect there will be a bit of an upset and outrage from the friends and family members there immediately upon viewing the footage, and then I’ll speak.

Or, maybe I should act surprised, like it’s my first time seeing the video as well! I could slam the bouquet into his hateful little face, and... no. That’s dishonest and too melodramatic—even in that situation. I’ll speak honestly, and from the heart. Something short and bitter, and I’ll make my getaway.

A pounding from the door the night before the wedding knocks me out of my grinchy musings. What the hell?

“Who is it?”

More knocking. A glance out the peephole reveals darkness. “Landlord! Open up.”

What the hell? Did Bobby decide to stop paying for his fuck pad? I open the door. Eric pushes his way into the apartment. I tingle then cringe when the anger on his face radiates toward me.

“What the hell are you doing, Hazel?”

“Quiet night at home?” Playing dumb could work.

“You didn’t break up with Bobby at all.”

“How do you know?”

“Courtney. She stopped by to grab my invitation to the wedding—said since we’d broken up, she was going to take someone else.”

“Oh.” Bitch! She’s still ruining things. I heave a giant sigh.

He steps closer, and I find myself wrapped in his arms. I nuzzle closer, wanting this comfort and safety forever. His touch is even better than I remembered and it’s just a hug. I realize just how deeply I’ve come to care about him in the past few days, which is crazy. But I feel how everything is calm inside me. Until he speaks. “I thought you were past this.” His voice is soft.

“Guess not.”

He pulls back, breaking contact. “You’re still in love with him?”

“No! I am not in love with that prick. I’m not doing this for sentimental reasons so I can hang onto the relationship for a few days more.”

“But you still care. Otherwise you’d have walked away by now.”

“You don’t get it at all!”

“No, I really don’t. Like, have the past few days meant nothing to you?”

“What?”

“Us. We’ve been talking. Really talking. But you lied. You’re no better than they are.”

He might as well have slapped my heart. “The past few days have meant a lot to me.” More than he knows. “But how dare you say I’m no better than them!” Tears prickle my eyes. “After what they did—”

“What you’re doing is so far below you. It’s like I don’t know who you are. That amazing, sweet, talented as hell woman is throwing everything she is away just to hurt people.”

“They hurt me first!”

He nods. “Yes, they did. And it was unforgiveable. But you’re going into this aiming to hurt people. That’s not the girl I’m... I know.” He turns to leave.

What was he going to say? “Eric, please.”

He pauses with his hand on the doorknob, but doesn’t look back. “What?”

“Are you going to tell?” I want him to stay, but this is more important.

“That’s what you care about? Why can’t you just move on?”

“I can’t!”

“Then we’re done—whatever we are. Don’t worry, you’ll get your big revenge. Your secret is safe. I have nothing left to say to any of you.”

Somehow, him leaving is the most devastating thing that’s happened—even more so than finding the video.

And now I really have nothing to lose.