2: 2
His friend hadn't expected me so soon, and lunged to pull him off.
But Garry had clearly had too much to drink, both hands clamped on the woman's shoulders, refusing to let go.
In the struggle, her collar slipped.
Baring the red mole on her chest.
My breath stopped.
Same spot. I had one on my chest too.
Except mine wasn't a mole.
It was a scar. Garry had burned it into me with a cigarette one night when he'd had too much.
His friend pulled harder, and the others moved in to help.
It took real effort before they finally dragged him off Lucinda.
He dropped heavily into the couch beside her, his face flushed red.
His friend let out a long breath and hurried to explain.
"Myra, don't get the wrong idea, okay? Garry's just drunk. He's not usually like this, you know that."
"This is Lucinda, our college classmate. She just got back today, and she happened to catch the reunion..."
The old me would probably have lost it right there.
But now, my head was full of nothing but that mole on Lucinda's chest. I'd even forgotten how to think.
Lucinda's eyes moved over me with an amused, probing curiosity.
His friend started introducing who I was.
At the word fiancée, Garry shot up off the couch.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
"Lucinda, I haven't touched anyone else all these years. Believe me! I swear!"
For a moment, the hand under my sleeve curled into a fist, nails digging deep into my palm.
Everyone's faces changed, and the looks they gave me were full of awkwardness.
When everyone assumed I'd get angry and walk out then and there.
I drew a breath, smiled, and held out my hand to Lucinda.
"Hi, I'm Myra, a friend of Garry's. You have a really nice figure, Miss Pruitt."
The moment I finished, the room went dead silent.
People glanced at one another.
Lucinda gave an unbothered little smile.
"So do you, Miss Harding. We're about the same height too. At a glance you'd think we were sisters."
Then she reached for the drink on the table.
Garry, who had only just settled, snatched the glass away and blurted out,
"You can't drink today, your period's almost due. I'll get the waiter to bring some juice."
He said it while pushing himself unsteadily to his feet.
Lucinda just grabbed his wrist and pulled, and Garry dropped back down beside her.
She smiled, all helpless amusement.
"It's been ten years. My cycle hasn't been on that schedule for ages. Are you stupid?"
In that moment, something in my head seemed to detonate.
The shards left my heart torn to pieces.
So it wasn't that he couldn't remember. He just didn't care about me.
Seven years. Countless times I'd reminded him that my cramps were bad, that I had to have painkillers ready before my period.
And every time he forgot. Every time he'd wait until it was too late, then go buy them, grudgingly.
At first I got angry. Later I gave in.
I even lied to myself, told myself he was just worn out from work, that there was no room left in his head for anything else.
But today, reality slapped me awake again.
Every little detail was laying bare the fact that he didn't love me.
His friend gave an awkward laugh and leaned close to my ear, lowering his voice.
"Myra, take him home, would you? The idiot's drunk and acting up. Don't take anything he says to heart."
Expressionless, I pulled Garry to his feet.
As I went downstairs to catch a cab, Lucinda came out after me.
She watched me with a bright smile, then glanced at Garry slumped against me.
"You actually like Garry, don't you?"
"I'm a woman too. I can tell."
"He likes girls in white dresses, hair in a high ponytail. Maybe you should give it a try."
I clenched my teeth, said nothing, and turned to get in the car.
She stepped forward, blocking my way.
"Miss Harding, I don't mean anything by it. I'm really glad to have met you as a friend."
"How about I get your contact info? If you ever run into any problems chasing Garry, you can ask me anytime. I've got experience in that area."
