Her words stab into me.
He got it for free from me too ...and he still wanted more.
“Do you want me to go natural on your eyes or sultry?” Gabi asks, holding an eyeshadow palette aloft as another spa employee comes in with a woman wrapped in a robe and sandals on her feet. They set up at the station on the opposite side of the room.
“Natural is fine. I don’t need glam treatment. It’s not like I’m getting fixed up to go anywhere.”
“No, but you never know who you’re gonna see ...”
We both know exactly who she’s talking about, and I don’t even want to contemplate what’s going to happen the next time I see Lincoln. Even having glass between us and me pretending he wasn’t there was more than I could handle.
I wish seeing him once had proven that I don’t care anymore, but all it proved was that I’ve been lying to myself for years. My body roared to life like I’ve been sleepwalking for the last ten years.
I shove all that aside and focus on the task at hand. “As long as you cover up my fabulous black eye, I’ll be fine.”
Gabi’s bubbly attitude fades in the face of the harsh reality of why I’m here. “You going to tell me where you buried him? The guy who hit you?”
“I pressed charges. I’m hoping I never have to see him again.”
“Good girl. Someday, you and I are going to go out, have some drinks, and catch up. Sounds like we both need it.” She pauses for a moment. “And just so you know, no one in this town had any great love for Ricky. I guarantee they aren’t blaming you for what happened.”
It takes everything I have to keep my smile pasted on my face and not let the tears gathering spill.
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“Of course, Whit. You’re among friends now.”
She hands me a tissue, and I carefully dab at my eyes.
“It’s been a while since I could talk to anyone who didn’t have an ulterior motive. I thought I’d made some good friends in LA, but then I was shocked to find the things I’d told them show up in gossip magazines.”
Gabi’s brush hand stills. “Those whores. I hope they get crotch rot.”
My lips quirk into a rueful smile. “Right? Up until then, no one knew he’d ever been to rehab ... but they sure spilled that fast.”
“You stuck by him through rehab too? God, I didn’t know that.”
“We managed to keep it out of the press because I covered for him. As far as they know, it was our second honeymoon retreat in Fiji.”
“I read about that! So you didn’t even go to Fiji?”
“No. I stayed in the house for six weeks without leaving because I couldn’t be spotted without screwing up our story.”
“It sounds like you made some serious sacrifices for that man.”
I shrugged. “Isn’t that what marriage is about? Sacrifices?”
“I’m done with all that shit,” Gabi says. “Now, it’s all about me and my babies.”
“Amen.”
“You know, except for the necessary bump and grind here and there, I try to keep it real quiet.” She pauses. “You know any Hollywood types who need a fling on the side? I’m all about the long-distance relationships.” When I laugh, she smiles. “Never mind. I couldn’t handle their drama.”
“Trust me, you don’t want a damn thing to do with that. They’re all fake as hell.”
She holds the palette up. “Speaking of fake as hell, let’s make you so naturally beautiful that Lincoln will forget all about Maren the second he sees your gorgeous face.”
“What is she doing here?”