Trisha rubbed her arm and stuck her tongue out at the man. He huffed, and waddled off to a different section of the library. “That’s right, sweetling. Total jerk off. But let’s not scare the people with our tirade’s. K?”
Betty clenched her jaw, blinking back the hot pulsing anger flowing through her gut whenever she thought about James. Even now, ten months later, she couldn’t believe what an idiot she’d been. Her friends, family, they’d all told her he was scum. Always hitting on this and that person, probably even sleeping with a few-- she thought of her cousin Linda in particular, and sighed-- though none would ever admit to it.
If it was just a matter of getting over him, she wasn’t sure it would be so hard. But his new girlfriend was making Betty’s life a living hell. Somehow the queen B was convinced she was trying to worm her way back into James’ life and was now harassing her any chance she got.
“That woman is driving me nuts, Trisha. Three freaking messages she left me. All detailing in graphic description what they do in bed and how I never did for him what she can and ugh...” Her nails dug into the palms of her hands. Not like they’d just broken up, which made the phone calls all the weirder.
“Ssh.” Trisha pushed the cart away and took Pride and Prejudice out of her hands, then pulled her in for a tight hug. “That woman is an idiot and in desperate need of therapy. You ask me, I bet James is up to his old tricks and inciting her jealousy because he hasn’t tossed pictures of you away or something equally idiotic. That man always did want what he couldn’t have.”
Betty’s lips twitched and she shook her head. “Well he’s not getting me back. I can’t stand him. I hate him. I hate her.” She trembled. “I can barely sleep, some nights I got calls back to back. And when I tell the cops all they say is she’s not a danger to me and there’s not a darn thing they can do about it. Men suck.”
Trisha’s green eyes were soft. “Oh, honey, he’s so not worth it and I wish you wouldn’t judge every man based off one bad seed.” She gave Betty’s upper arm a gentle squeeze. “But the cops are right. Gretchen’s not a killer, just jealous. She knows she can’t hold a candle to you and it’s burning her up inside.”
Betty chuckled. “You’re right. I’m not fearing for my life or anything, it’s just... I want to move on.”
“There you go,” Trisha’s voice brightened. “Who knows, maybe Mr. Right is just around the corner. True love, le sigh.” Trisha clapped her hands together dramatically.
“Oh yeah, true love my butt.” Betty rolled her eyes. “Says the girl who can’t hold down a relationship for longer than the next release of the newest Coach purse.”
“Hey, do not mock the Coach.” Trisha wagged a finger. “Those bags are to die for. Besides,” she shrugged, “it’s not like I don’t want a permanent man, but I’m picky. Until I find him, I’m very happy to flirt.” She winked. “Makes life worth living.”
Betty grabbed another book and took a deep breath. “Yeah well, I’m so over guys.”
Trisha’s green eyes sparkled as she grabbed a book from the cart. “Mmm. You’ll change your mind.”
“I doubt it.” Betty’s lips thinned. Men were dogs. She’d seen enough in her twenty six years to know it was total fact. They had sex on the brain and little else.
“Excuse me,” a woman’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Betty turned to see a redhead standing with two boys pressed to her legs.
“Yes?” Betty asked.
“I just thought I should tell you, there’s some guy sitting outside. He looks like he’s gotten into a fight and he totally gives me the willies. You should probably call the cops or something.”
Betty glanced at Trisha, heart sinking as their eyes met. It wasn’t often they got complaints like this, but she never liked dealing with them.
“Trisha, can you?”
Trisha sighed. “Fine, I’ll deal with the perv. Finish racking and stacking.” She glanced at her watch. “Wanna get out of here by five. Got places to be.”
Betty snorted. “You mean losers to see.”
“Hey,” Trisha tapped her chest, her red nails standing out bold against the crisp white of her top, “you know how it goes, one woman’s trash...”
“Yeah, whatever.” Betty turned around and got back to work.
Betty was halfway done when Trisha finally returned, but she was acting weird, glancing over her shoulder every five seconds with a big, goofy grin on her face. Trisha’s low pitch giggle was so unlike her that Betty’s brows dipped. “What in the world is wrong with you?”
Trisha fanned her flushed face as she pointed to the library sitting area. “Him. That. Boy is he a tall glass of water. And his voice,” she sighed, “made me have a mini-orgasm.”