Lie E-Book

Kris Buendía

• Herausgeber: Kris Buendia
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 395

Beschreibung

 Would you survive being left in the altar by your first love?  Could you handle the fact that your second love and marriage was a charade? They say that the third time's the charm. But sometimes it's the worst out of all of them.  Would you trust your handsome neighbor without falling in love with him?  I trusted mine…and yes, I did fall in love with him. He also lied. Another hustler to add to the list. He told me that he was a well known and respected architect but it turns out he was an important CIA agent. He said he had a mission to accomplish.  His mission…was me. 

Leseprobe

love cheated

kris buendia

Copyright © 2012 Kris Buendía

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9789997902740

To the girl that eight years ago didn't know what love was.

Now I know because I love myself.

Would you survive being left in the altar by your first love?

Could you handle the fact that your second love and marriage was a charade?

They say that the third time's the charm. But sometimes it's the worst out of all of them.

Would you trust your handsome neighbor without falling in love with him?

I trusted mine…and yes, I did fall in love with him.

He also lied. Another hustler to add to the list. He told me that he was a well known and respected architect but it turns out he was an important CIA agent.

He said he had a mission to accomplish.

His mission…was me.

CHAPTER

ONE

“I don´t love you anymore.”

I heard him say while my wine glass fell from my hands and into the floor, pouring all of its content onto my feet.

He didn't love me anymore?

My legs can`t hold on anymore, and I am about to fall into my knees, but he, he holds me. Why does he hold me?

Of course, he is my husband.    

My husband.

The one that doesn´t love me anymore.

I feel like I am out of air. My husband, the man that I have loved for the past 3 years, is still holding me.

“Fuck Lana!” He says angrily.

He is angry at me? ¡Fuck! I should be mad ¡HE DOESN'T LOVE ME ANYMORE!

“Those 4 word” I whispered “I think I’m dreaming”

“You are not dreaming Lana” He took me to my favorite sofa. That sofa that he gave me as a present when we first moved in here. The pattern of white fabric and pink lipsticks “ my favorite color “ is the only thing that feels mine right now.

“Gabe…”

“I´m sorry” He said. He kept on hugging me while I was sitting on his lap.

Three years. Three years ago I became his wife, when everything in my life started to make sense. Four years ago he walked into the emergency room with a bullet wound, as a result of a robbery. He told me that my blue eyes and my brunette hair were the things that made him fall in love with me right away. I didn't have any reason to go back home and he didn't have anybody else, so I stayed by his side until he woke up.

“A date” I remember “You asked me on a date the next day you woke up from surgery and I said yes. It took only one date for us to fall in love.”

Gabe doesn't say anything, but he stops touching me as if it was chronically painful for him. I see him walk in circles in our living room, even though it won't be anymore. I refuse to beg for his love, I refuse to be like one of those woman that cry and beg their husbands not to leave them, that is not who I am. I have never been weak towards him or anybody. I have stayed strong my whole life, without a mother, brothers or sisters, not many friends either, just a career and now, a broken heart.

What I will not allow is for him to leave me without telling me the truth.

“I`ve met someone. I know that this might not be what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth.”

My god, he is talking. And now I don't want to hear him.

“Nobody quits loving somebody in the blink of an eye without a third party being involved Gabe” I tell him while I compose myself and stand up so as to end the conversation “It is logical that there is another woman. So, clearly I don't wish you the best, but I do appreciate that you are being honest with me. I just would like to tell you something Gabe Miller.”

Gabe looks at me and puts his hands in his waist.

“What is it?”

I step closer to him slowly, he watches my every move, he sees my naked legs and stops right there for a moment. In my mount of Venus. The motherfucking son of a bitch just made love to me as he had never done before and now, I realize that it was goodbye sex. I clean my last tears with the back of my hand and I hiss in his face:

“Go fuck yourself.”

Gabe opens his eyes as wide as they go and says nothing. I go straight to the shower to clean each and every fingerprint of my body, I know it's going to be hard, but if Gabe was able to love me I am sure I will be able to do so as well. By the time I get out of the bathroom, I know he won't be there anymore, and he better not be, because I will be the one kicking him out of what will now be my lonely house.

CHAPTER

TWO

It hurts.

I haven`t left this room for hours. I haven't eaten or slept either. I said Isn’t become the typical abandoned woman. But I lied.

It hurts like hell.

They say that to forget a loved one you need seventeen months.

Fuck that!

I will the bastard of Gabe in less than those freaking months, five hundred and fifteen days.

Or at least I hope so. I have to start by getting out of here. So, I ignore the whole service staff when they see me going down the stairs. Some shocked, some fearful like they just saw a ghost.

“Mrs. Miller, would you like to have breakfast?”

Breakfast?

Shit. I`ve been locked up in that room for hours.

“No, thank you Mrs. Robinon. Is Mrs. Miller here? Because I`m going to kill him if he slept in this house after confessing he has a mistress. Just tell me where you keep the knives, I will take care of the rest.”

    She opens her eyes and just stares at me. She must think I`m crazy. Well, I don`t even know. But what I do know is that I will kill Gabe if he shows his face around here.

“No, Mrs. Mr. Miller hasn`t come home.”

“Well, in that case I will go out.”

“Are you ok?”

“Perfectly fine” I lie.

    I take a few steps and I hear her cry. I get alarmed and I go to her rapidly. She has been good to me ever since I came here. She is the one that taught me about etiquette. The way I grew up with my father wasn`t the fanciest, but I had the best childhood, so, I`m lucky for that.

My mother`s death when I was nine years old didn`t prevent my father from giving me all that I needed. Even though the void of a mother is hard to fill, with time you get over it and even more so with people as good as Mrs. Robinon and my friends. I thought that Gabe would fill that void also with love and a family of our own, but the reality is different.

“Is it true about the divorce?” She asks as she wipes away her tears. It looks like the news affected her more than me. Even though, who am I kidding?

Yes. But don’t cry. You are making me feel like I was a bad mother.

    We both start laughing. She could really be my mother. So I take her hand and squeeze it. As I`m about to ask her to walk with me to the kitchen and accept her breakfast offer as a goodbye, I hear somebody`s footsteps.

    “Lana.”

I get tense.

I squeeze my fists and walk over to where Gabe is standing. He looks like he didn`t have a good night either. Did he go to his lover`s arms for comfort?

I don`t have knives.

But I do have my hands. So I go straight at him and the palm of my hand goes to his face.

“Son of a bitch!” I hit him “You dare come back after everything! Get out!”

“Lana!” He screams, taking one of my arms stopping me from hitting him again. I`m sure it hurts him just like my heart hurts me right now remembering each and every one of his last words.

“I hate you!”

I scream at him for the last time and I compose myself. I`ve put on quite the show in front the service staff. Well, I don`t care. This is how I am, with no filters or etiquettes.

“I think it`s good that you hate me. But I came here to see how you were doing.”

Did I hear him correctly?

“If I`m ok? Let me explain something to you: my husband, the man that has been my husband for all of these years told me to my face that he doesn`t love me anymore and that he has a mistress. The next day he comes home and asks me how I`m doing. Well, I`ll tell you how I`m doing, Gabe: Go fuck yourself! That is how I`m doing.”

    He doesn`t say a thing, he just combs his fucking hair, that hair that made me wild with passion, but that right now I just want to take him from there and drag him out of the house. His big grey eyes tell me he is shocked because of my reaction. I stopped behaving like a lady in front of him, I`ve become, right now, in the girl that he met a few years ago.

Gabe had arrived in the emergency room four years ago. Why? I wasn`t even a nurse, I was a surgeon, but it was a long night and he fell directly and literally at my feet.

“Three years” I whisper” Three fucking years. I shouldn`t have been there. They shouldn`t have hurt you that night. And the most pathetic thing is that I should wish that you died that day, but no, my father didn`t educate me like that, like I`m sure you were. What kind of man throws three years of marriage to the trash? Only a Miller.”

“I won`t let you talk about my family like that, Lana."

“I don`t give a flying fuck Gabe. I will talk to you however I like. Look at your sister, do you know where she is? Of course not, your brother got married five times and your father” I laugh to myself” I better not say anything about your father, I thought you were different. A big sister that doesn`t take care of her children, an unstable brother and a pandering father.”

“Shut up Lana. Stop judging my freaking family.”

“Judge? Isn`t that what they have done to me for the past three years? I`m going to judge them because I`m allowed to, you`ve broken my heart, and because of that I have the right to tell you to your face everything I haven`t in these past years. You are not better than them, open your eyes. I think you are worse.”

I go back to the living room, and when I`m about to go up again to my room, Gabe`s arm stops me.

“You better let me go right now.”

“What did you become from day to night Lana? You are not like this. Ever since you became my wife you became a respectable woman, a lady, I don`t even know when you started to use the word “pander”. I thought that being honest with you would soften things up but I was wrong.”

“Oh, don`t be sorry for your honesty. At least have the decency to hold your word. Be a man and live with it. The refined woman is gone, at least for you, you don`t deserve it, you met me in an emergency room, Gabe. You fell in love with me as I was, but you didn`t know me, I think you never did, ever since I became your wife it was your rules, your decisions, why did you wait so long to break my heart? Or maybe now that you have the balls to tell me the truth” I take a small pause because of his unfriendly face” Did you think you were going to find me crying? Well no, I think I had enough with a few hours of crying…”

“Shut the fuck up!“ He screams and I get rattled ”I already heard your fucking sorrows and fits, now you are going to listen to me, God dammit. You want me to be honest? I will, I DON`T LOVE YOU ANYMORE! I think I never did, I got married to take off the pressure that I had to and being unfaithful to you was always a part of my life.”

Oh my God.

“You are lying” I deny with my head “You haven`t been the perfect man, and there are things about you and your career that I will never understand, but, unfaithful? I find it hard to believe that I was so stupid as not to realize.”

“You are wrong Lana.”

I can`t believe it. Right now I don`t even know who I am, I`ve become an object, a plan. Shit! This doesn`t make any sense. I don`t need to hear this anymore, I don`t have the strength to do so either to continue arguing. I just want to get out of here, so I do.

“I`m…getting…out of…here.”

I hear him breath. If he dares to pity me this time I swear I will kill him.

I go up the stairs and into what was our room, I grab my purse, I go up to the dresser and get out all of my personal documents. I go down to the living room and I go straight to a small picture frame.

My father and I.

I ignore all of the rest where Gabe and I are together.

Our wedding.

Our birthdays together.

Our travels.

There is no “we” anymore. Never again.

I don`t even mind packing anything else, most of my things are in my office, I always felt more identified there, even so, we were happy, or at least I thought so.

“You don`t have to go, this is your house.”

His voice doesn`t stop me.

“No” I refuse still walking to the main door and opening it “It`s your mistress house now.”

I close the door without looking back.

CHAPTER

THREE

“Have you already left the house?”

Dixon, my best friend and also a doctor, has been listening to me for three long hours. I didn't know where else to go. Dixon has been my best friend since med school, but his specialty was in plastic surgery and not me, as Gabe pointed out multiple times. Dixon is a gorgeous brunette man, well built and with dreamy green eyes, but he was never my type.

Our chemistry has always been as brothers and best friends. Not just with him, but with Moe and Agatha, we were the fantastic four and we still are.

“Of course, I wasn't going to stay and lay the red carpet for his lover when she got home to take my place.”

“But…What about your stuff?”

     “The most important things I have them in my bag.”

As I was expecting Dixon opens the bag and looks at what is inside. Not only that, but he takes everything from the bag as if it were the incredible bag from Mary Poppins.

“I just see a pink lipstick, your passport, your hospital credentials, some chewing gum, a tampon, some clean underwear and, a picture with your father?”

“Yes, from that house that picture was the only thing that belonged to me.

“What about your giant closet, Your designer clothes?, Your purses?, Your shoes? You´ve got to be fucking kidding me, Lana.”

“Things and vanities. I don´t need it.”

“Gorgeous” He is still surprised “You are welcome here as long as you want but, where are you going to live? After living in that mansion I don't think you are going to feel comfortable here.”

“The things I thought were important don't seem to be anymore. I will start looking for an apartment tomorrow. I have enough money to take a whole year off, and even so, the last thing I want is to stop working. You guys, my father and my career have always kept me grounded.”

I realize that I'm crying and Dixon hugs me.

     “Lana. You are not alone gorgeous. You will get through it.”

     “I hope so. I really just want to get him out of my head, out of my heart and my memories.”

    “Fuck, this whole thing sucks. You are the most beautiful, intelligent and kind person I have ever met. How is it that this things always happen to good people? Look at me. I am a son of a bitch and just a while ago my mother called me to thank me for the cruise I paid for her. I really just bought it for her so I wouldn't have to go visit her next month.”

“Yes, you are a son of a bitch.”

“Tell me something I don't know. I really feel like I'm going crazy. I am thirty years old and I´m still crazy about somebody and I think they will never notice.”

     “Since when are you going to keep it a secret? I really want to know who this mystery woman is.”

    He looks at me a bit more nervous than usual and smiles.

    “We are talking about you” He evades the question. I would really like to see him happy. He has talked to me about this mystery woman for so long and he doesn't have the courage to declare his love, as silly as that sounds, I sometimes believe is better that way. Loving just one person that doesn't know and maybe will never do.

    “Are you sure you are going to be ok?”

    “I will.”

     “Does your father know?”

     My god, my father. He can't know about this.

     “He won't know until this whole circus is over. I want him to know when I´m stable. Happy?”

    “I promise I will keep the secret.”

My friend Dixon understands. And even though it might seem easy to look for an apartment and starting from zero, it isn´t.

How do you get over three years of marriage with the person that you thought was the love of your life?

Now everything makes sense. Gabe never wanted kids and with everything going on with my career and his we never even got the time to discuss it. The idea was in the table but neither of us could make a decision.

Everything was planned. He wasn't going to stay long.

…

While I´ve been in my office, I have approximately seen twenty apartments in the city and also a little further outside from Washington. As much as I want to get away from here, my job won`t allow it, so, I have to get an apartment close by.

A building maybe.

Do I like heights?

    “Of course not” I say out loud.

“Have you gone mad that quickly that you are already talking to yourself?

As soon as I look up I see Dixon, Moe and Agatha entering my office. Moe is the other one of my boys, gorgeous as Dixon, but a little darker and taller than me, and unlike Dixon, Moe is a heartbreaker. Agatha on the other hand, is the most gorgeous African American woman that I have ever seen with honey colored eyes. Moe is an anesthesiologist and Agatha has the same specialty as I do, she is a cardiothoracic surgeon. I`m lucky enough to be able to work with my best friends and sometimes even in the same operating room.

     “Good morning to you too.”

“What are you up to” Moe is the first one to get close to me. His manly perfume invades my comfort zone and forces me to sneeze twice.

“Shit” He complaints “You always do the same, are you allergic or something?”

     “I think it`s just of what you are wearing” Dixon replies.

     “I´m looking for an apartment and I can't make up my mind.

Agatha and Moe are the ones that just this morning learned about my separation and now that I don't have a place to live, they look at each other. Dixon on the other hand has been begging me not to leave so quickly, that it is dangerous for a woman in my situation to leave alone.

I see that Moe and Dixon are looking at me dead in the eyes.

“Don´t look at me that way” she insisted.

Of my three best friends, Dixon is the one that understands me best and is also the more serious of all of us. It is a pity that his love is not corresponded; he is by far the best guy a girl could have. I say that, the person who has been friends with him for year and has seen the best and worst about him. Like Moe, for example, who doesn't waste his time and goes out with lots of girls and the occasional guy, even though he denies it.

“Let´s see” He pulls the seat from me and sits in my lap.    

     “Bastard, you weigh more than my thoughts.”

Dixon and Agatha laugh. Moe finally let me stand from my chair and sits.

“I´m sure you will find something really nice” says Agatha “I wish I was single so you could come and live with me. I can talk to Ridge about it if you want.”

    “Don´t even think about it, Ridge is the best husband you could have dreamed of, the last thing you need right now is to carry your twenty eight year old homeless and divorced best friend.”

“Hey” Dixon complaints “Thanks a lot for that.”

“I don´t say it because of you honey. You know I love everything you do for me.”

I get him to smile and carry on with my conversation with Agatha until Moe seems to have found something.

     “How about a skyscraper?”

    “I hate heights.”

“A skyscraper in town, in the most exclusive streets of DC, luxury apartment ant the best thing of all is that you don't have to furnish it” He continues to look at the laptops screen “And it is really a skyscraper.”

The three of us jumped to see what Moe was describing. This time I sit down on my friends lap and see the pictures.

“Oh wow” I admire “It really is beautiful.

“And expensive” Agatha comments” But you are the best surgeon I know and this hospital could have, you deserve this and much more.

“I agree” Says Dixon “It is a beautiful place but I insist, you don't have to move out so quickly.”

I stay quiet for a few moments while I listened to their comments. The apartment is beautiful and even though the price maybe the annual salary of a normal doctor, it really is worth it and I can afford it. Also I always wanted a place like that when I was single, but I occupied my time in giving the very best to my father first and as a result he has a beautiful home in California. When I had to take care of me was when I met Gabe and wealth was absurd to me.

“I can't imagine the things you will be able to do there, Lana. “

I look at my friends. The three of them are waiting for a reaction from me. And the truth is that I can't find anything wrong with the apartment. I could start from zero, I just hope I don't die trying. I smile to myself and look at my friends again.

“Who wants to help me move in? Oh, it’s true” I remember “There will be no moving.”

Moe is the first to hug me really tight. Then it`s Dixon`s turn and finally Agatha.

“Jesus, let her breath” Moe complaints and I laugh.

“Perfect, so tomorrow we will help you with whatever you need. It is the weekend so you will be able to start the week as a new woman. “

“Thanks guys. “

And that is how life works, it takes a husband away from me but gives me my three musketeers that are decided to fight this battle with me.

Friends after all don't cheat on you.

CHAPTER

FOUR

Fuck.

The apartment is even bigger that what the photos showed.

“So Mrs. Miller. Is it perfect for you?”

“Taynor” I correct him “Miller will soon cease to exist, and yes, it is perfect for me. “

“My bad” He gives me a small smile and gives me the pen “In that case we better hurry, so we can celebrate in your new home.”

“Home?”

Of course.

Once I signed the papers I welcome myself to the house. I go through all of the hallways and I stop in my new kitchen. I think I will prepare some amazing dishes for my friends here from now on. The sheer size of it is incredible, and it`s kitchen island made out granite in the middle of it makes me think that maybe in another life I would have premiere it in a very different way.

It`s really hot!

I walk towards the living room and I contemplate the brand new white sofas, the soft furry rug under the little table full of fashion magazines. There is a beautiful oak bookcase that I will slowly fill with books, and it's big gorgeous lamps on each side give it the perfect finish touch.

Now I go to the dining room. One, two, three, four…five, six. Perfect, there are plenty. Over the dining room table there are white fresh roses that even from here they smell exquisite. I continue walking around the apartment and finally I go to the place I've wanted to see since I got here. I run to my new bed and jump on it. I feel the brand new Egyptian cotton sheets, according to what the real state guy said. They smell like a single, free woman. There is also a matching rug like the one in the living room, but this one is bigger. It feels really soft under my feet and it's even furrier that the other one. There is a small sofa under the enormous 100 inches plasma TV that is on the wall.

The person who decorated this apartment must have a really amazing sense of humor. The one in the living room is like this one or even bigger. I think the guys and I will like it. I could enjoy a classic movie or a TV show when I`m home.

The whole minimalistic style of my new apartment makes me love it even more. I think I will be happy here.

I go back to the living room and look for my Dad's picture. I place it in the corner where there are also fresh flowers and I smile.

Now I feel at home.

All of a sudden the doorbell rings and it almost gives me a heart attack. It has been so long since I've done something as simple as answering the door. I open the door…and there is no one there. Just as I am about to close the door I hear somebody slamming their door close.

Somebody is having a bad day.

A few minutes later I glance around and see some complimentary gifts in the kitchen. I make myself a cup of coffee and go to the terrace. You can breathe calmness and a little bit of solitude. I zip my coffee and the smell invades my comfort zone. As if somebody asked me to turn around, I do it and just as I do the man goes back in. It was definitely a man. One with good taste for perfumes. He smells delicious. Pity I couldn't see his face or say hello. I'm sure he is the one that slammed the door a little while ago.

Could he be the one that rang my doorbell? I don't think so. He doesn’t seem to have any kids, I think that because I don't hear anybody on the other side. I better just forget it. This time somebody is really ringing my doorbell.

Agatha.

“I`ve come to kidnap you” She says as she comes in and takes a look around. “We are going shopping. I can't go on looking at you with only your hospital clothes, and we are also filling this brand new fridge with food to heat up and we will break this apartment in, even though it is spectacular its sheer size is a bit depressing. Is it really a good idea for you to be living here all alone?”

“I love it.”

Agatha seems to have had enough of my answers and just says yes with her head.

“Ok, in that case, give me the tour and let`s get your ass out of here as soon as possible. I've brought you a new dress that I bought on my way here, don't even think that you are coming out dressed like that”.

I won`t argue anymore and I do as Agatha tells me to. I give her the tour and I change my clothes. I really love the dress that she bought for me. It is a sleeveless white dress with a really soft pattern up to me knees. I am lucky that they look good with my lilac converse, and we head out.

“I can`t remember the last time that we went shopping together” I tell her while we wait for the elevator “Gabe was the one that gave the orders to our stylist on how I should dress, the truth is…”

“Shut up” she interrupts me “Rule number one: You will never pronounce his name again while you are doing something for yourself. It is bad luck.”

“You are completely right, this is a new beginning.”

“And what a start” she says under her breath.

“What did I miss?”

“Shhh, look who is coming there. “

I see where she is pointing to “almost” discreetly. There is a man with his back to me coming out of the next door apartment. It's the same mystery man” that smells delicious” from a while ago. As he is about to turn around, I get really nervous and look at my shoes.

Holy cow, the outfit I'm wearing. I`m not only wearing converse just like a teenager, but I also have my hair in a really messy ponytail. On my face I'm only wearing my pink lipstick.

Agatha clears her throat and I press my lips so as not to tell her to not even try…but it's too late. I hear her say:

“Good afternoon.”

I wait for an answer from the man and as soon as I look up the elevator comes.

“Good afternoon ladies.”

Oh my God!

It's the sexiest husky voice I have ever heard. He must have a problem with me. I think that the moving and the separation have me in a really bad state.

Little by little we get into the elevator and I stay behind. Agatha is next to me and the man is in front facing the elevator doors. I take the chance and look up.

Tall.

Blond.

Nice suit.

“Cute” Agatha whispers.

“Shut up” I whisper back a little bit lower” he is going to hear you.

“So what? It's better if he does, you are his new neighbor, beautiful and single.”

“Agatha” I say no with my head.

“Ok.”

I bite my lower lip and keep looking at his back. He must be someone important for him to look that perfect at this time of day. He doesn't seem that friendly, he said hello politely, but his tone was a bit rough.

His phone rings and I see him taking it from the inside pocket of his jacket.

“I got your message” He starts saying, and I can see a bit of resentment in his voice “I`m on my way there now…no…incompetence is not part of my job description or yours…fire them all…yes…ok.”

Agatha opens her mouth in shock and I open my eyes as wide as I can.

He really seems like somebody important.

Arrogant.

Bad tempered.

“Oh my god” Agatha whispers “This guy is an asshole. “

“But a really good looking asshole” it slips out and the back of the asshole shakes.

Has he heard us?

Fuck!

“Shhh” my friend says “Jesus, Lana, control your impulses, you don't want to provoke a man in an elevator. “

I stand mute for a second. I'm an idiot, I can't say that and in front of my new neighbor. I don't even recognize myself.

The doors open and he is the first one out.

“Bye” Agatha says loudly and I hide behind her when I see that he might turn around.

“Shit, he's gone.”

“Thank God for that.”

“ What are you talking about? “ She asks smiling “He lives right next door to you, what I would give to see that ass again. “

    Oh shit.

After the number one embarrassment with my best friend and the not so mysterious anymore neighbor, we get lost in an afternoon of shopping on every shop in the mall. Agatha helps me fill my closet once again. But this time, clothes that make me feel more me. Nothing labeled or high fashion. I can be elegant and simple at the same time.

Bye”bye stuck up. Hello, Lana. Even though hiding from some reporters has given me great work, in the end I was able to disguise myself with some glasses. Besides, nobody expects to see the wife of Senator Miller in a place like this.

After shopping for clothes we go to the supermarket and I buy everything my heart desires.

Chocolate and ice cream.

It`s a must.

When we get home we start putting everything in its place and as I am about to put the last item on the closet my heart jumps out of my chest.

“No, no, no” She says as she takes the dress out of my hands “no crying, Lana. Let's go to the kitchen. We will make some dinner and I can stay over if you want. I know that my husband wouldn't mind if I stayed with you.”

“I`m going to be fine” I say as I whimper “Don`t worry, it is just that this whole thing seems so surreal. I have to call my father and tell him that Gabe and I will not be going on our planned trip next month. I don't even have the courage to tell my father the truth. What type of daughter am I?”

“The best one. You don't need to worry him right now and that is ok. But you must know one thing. Or you want to protect your father or you don't want to accept the fact that your marriage has gone to the dumpster.”

I hadn't thought about it that way. Maybe Agatha is right. The thing about getting out of the house, and lying to my father is part of the things I don't want to get over just yet.

“I just need time to talk to him. I haven't even mourned the separation. Would you believe me if I told you that I haven't cried a single tear? I have cried, but not because of pain, but because of anger and to present myself as normal as I can. “

“Well, I mean, it`s ok. I`m not a psychologist, but in the meantime, let’s cook some dinner and talk about boys. “

“Ok. You can invite Ridge if you want, so I can rest easy knowing that another marriage isn't ruined. “

The night comes and for the first time I feel more alive, more me. There is a wall in my heart that is about to go down, and I am being strong for my friends and to show myself that I can go through this. I haven't received any calls from Gabe.

What an idiot.

I have to stop thinking about that. I have to fucking start getting over this. I have a new dreamy apartment. An extraordinary career and the best friends I could hope for.

Do I need anything else?

Love? Of course not.

Love has swindled me.

CHAPTER

FIVE

I lied.

I don't want to start getting over him. Three years, three years were I thought I was happy next to my husband. With his lifestyle, his rules. But now I realize that I wasn't really happy and that I was living a lie.

Now I cry. But not only because I was dumped and betrayed. But because of me, because I lost three years of my life next to a man that used me and that in the blink of an eye forced me to restart living my life. I have forced the thought into my mind that I am not the one with the problem, but let's face it, it's the second time that my heart has been broken. They say that you can only bear three heartbreaks in your life in order to stop believing in love.

I stopped believing in love ever since Kiefer stood me up in the altar of that little Chapel in Apple Valley. I thought I was dreaming, but it wasn't a dream and even more when I run with my white dress, left to me by my late mother, and saw him getting down with Zara Lorens, the “Regina George” [1] of Apple Valley.

“You can join in if you want” he said moaning.

I left that place running as if my life depended on it.

And in reality it was. At the young age of 17. It would be stupid for somebody my age to say I was crazy in love with Kiefer, the hottest guy in town. But the truth was that I was in love with him.

We had grown up together, he was at my mom's funeral, in every birthday until he proposed. We planned on staying in California, but together we would have a successful career. He always wanted to be a pilot and I a doctor. I just hope that the bastard fulfilled his dreams of being a pilot because being the perfect husband didn't work.

My cell phone rings, I`ve been like this for hours and days, I`m tired of checking the battery life, and it will die soon. Just like me. In my not so new apartment that now is looking really bad. There are clothes all over the room. I haven't even cleaned anything, not even myself.

I haven't gone to work either and I think I'm fired. Even though I didn't have any surgeries scheduled for these days, as if I knew I would fall into this self”pity pit. This last thing worries me, if I want to keep on living here and lick my wounds I have to go back to work. But I don't have the strength to do so.

I hear the doorbell ring. I am not getting up from here. The guys must be worried about me, they must have seen this coming and I should have been wiser about it.

Now somebody is calling at the door with their fist, I don't care either, they can take the door down and I wouldn't care. The wall from my soul has been torn down and I am a mess. Finally some silence, and I go back to closing my eyes.

…

My head hurts.

I don't even know if it is day or night. Like I have some difficulty in doing so. I still feel just as awful. Only when I sleep can I feel some peace. But not in the past few days. I have had some of the worst nightmares, I wake up crying and looking for Gabe, and afterwards I remember that the bastard is no longer part of my life and it goes away.

“It is time to wake up” A voice says and I jump out of the bed.

I sit in the bed and see Agatha sitting in the sofa, Moe sitting in the carpet almost asleep and Dixon sitting in the edge of the bed.

“Good morning beautiful” Dixon says to me smiling” Even though I must say that it is eight o'clock at night, a good time to get out of bed and eat something, what do you thing Agatha, maybe dancing as well?

“I was just about to say the same thing.”

They make me cry a few tears and I cover my face with my hands. I must look pathetic right now. But again, they are here and I must not only be strong for them but for myself.

“I hope you have cried enough, Lana. Because we are not going to let you stay here locked up, you are going to move your ass and get in the shower then we are going to have dinner and as Dixon said we are going dancing and we will remind you that you are still young, beautiful and prosper.”

“Don´t forget hot as well” Moe mumbles.

“And hot” Agatha says as she rolls her eyes.

I don't know what to say but to do as they tell me to.

“I hope that one week locked up in here has been enough for you” Dixon says.

“How did you get in? “ I ask.

    “With the key” Moe answers.

“I´m the only one with a key.”

“No” Dixon says raising his hand “We all have keys, we knew that you were going to lock yourself up and whimper away so, we made copies for each of us so we could come and rescue you when the time came, but don`t worry, they are only for emergencies.”

I can't believe it. I have the best friends in the world, or the weirdest ones, I don't know, but I agree with both.

    After a long hot shower, the last thing I want is to look myself in the mirror, but I do.

Bags under my eyes.

Skinny as hell.

Lifeless.

“Nothing that a little makeup can't fix” Agatha says as she enters the walking closet “You are going to wear some tight black jeans, with that new figure you are going to look amazing. I am going to your jewelry box, we need a long necklace, and don't forget the boots and jacket before you go.”

“Wow, you think of everything, you must have been a stylist or personal assistant in your past life, because best friend you already are.”

“No, but I will be yours from now on.”    

Once I finish getting my long brown hair ready into little waves that the bed has already done for me, I reunite with the guys in the living room.

“I´m ready, now I just hope that the food is worth getting out of bed for.”

“You look stunning” Moe says as he takes my hand and spins me around “See, I told you guys to not forget how hot she is.”

Dixon gifts me with a smile and hands me his arm. The four of us get out of the apartment and onto the elevator. Something inside me says to turn around. I am no longer wearing converse or a ponytail. But I fail because my so not mysterious neighbor is not getting out of his apartment.

“Are you waiting for somebody? “ Dixon asks.

“Eh, no it´s just…”

    “She is into her neighbor” Agatha interrupts me.

“Is that true, Lana?” Moe asks me.

“Then” Moe takes a brief pause “Do you like his back?”

We all laugh our asses off.

“You are such idiots.”

We get to The Club, that’s the name, after we made a quick stop for pizzas and beer. Who would have said that I would do something like this? The weekends were always the time for some important diners with Gabe`s partners, nothing of romantic dates and even less fun times.

“Stop thinking about the “one who shall not be named”“ says Agatha.

“One that shall not be named?” I laugh “Ok, I'm not thinking about him precisely, I`m thinking that I will have fun tonight as never before.”

“Well, in that case” Moe waves to the waiter and he walks over to our table “A bottle of the finest thing you have.”

“ Right away, sir.”

The night is slow but fun. I have nothing to worry about. I am having the best time with my friends. And as soon as the song “Lush Life” by Larsson comes on, I start moving like a maniac.

“You are the bomb!” Says Dixon moving next to me “I didn't know you could move like that.”

“Beware then.

Dixon and Moe are dancing next to me and Agatha in front of me, we are the once that are having the best time of our lives and it shows because the DJ repeats the song. And we still are grooving to it without any issues.

“Tell Ridge to come and join us” I say to Agatha “When was the last time that you danced with him in a place like this?”

She thinks it over for a minute.

“I forget, are you sure you don't mind?”

“Don´t be silly, go on and call him.”

She gives me a kiss in the cheek and goes to the ladies bathroom to call her husband. I'm a bit jealous, they really do deserve each other. Moe goes back to the bar to order more drinks while Dixon and I stay dancing.

“I know you are going through a rough time, but I have something really important to tell you.”

“About what? “ We are almost screaming at each other because the music is so loud.

“It´s nothing important, well in fact it is, but really it's just nothing.”

“Come on, say it.”

Dixon moves and looks at me dead in the eyes, then he checks that Moe is still in the bar.

“It´s about the “mystery” regarding the person I like.

Oh, shit.

No fucking way.

No, no, no.

Am I the mystery woman that Dixon is in love with? He just said it. I`m going through a really difficult time and he waited for us to be alone to talk about it. Fuck, I can't do that to my best friend, I don't see him in that light.

I can't handle this right now.

At this time I am capable of marrying my best friend so as to not break his heart. And that would really be a foolish thing because I would become a swindler. Thinking about it I better just evade the subject.

“Hey Moe!” I scream to him as he comes nearer “I`m going to the ladies room to check on Agatha, look after Dixon.”

Out of the corner of my eye I can see that Dixon is really nervous. I know he realized that I was evading the subject. I go running to the ladies room but I see that Agatha is not there. She must have gone outside to meet Ridge, so I go to the door but I can't see her anywhere. People are bumping into each other and myself as they come in, then I realize I am blocking the door, so I go back inside unsuccessful.

When I get back to our table, I just see Moe, no sign of Dixon or Agatha.

“Where are the others?”

He seems worried about something.

“Eh, Dixon left, he seems to have had an emergency at the hospital, he told me to tell you.”

That´s a lie. But I'm not going to say anything. I just hope that Moe doesn`t know about the feelings that Dixon has for me, I will talk to him about it later, in the meanwhile, I just hope he is ok. I decided to send him a message thru WhatsApp.

Are you ok?

Yes, don´t worry. I had to come to the hospital, I don't think I will be long. As soon as I am done, I´m going home.

I'm sorry, are you sure you are ok?

Yes, gorgeous.

We will talk later about that thing you wanted to tell me.

No worries, it was just a silly thing. I have to go. Talk to you later.

Shit. I really mess everything up.

“Did Dixon say anything?” Moe's question surprised me.

“No, he told me the same thing he told you, he had something to do in the hospital.”

“Guys!” Agatha finally appears “I think this party is going to end up in my house, if you know what I mean.”

Agatha and Ridge can´t take their hands off each other. They look so adorable together, as if the just got married. Moe and I smile.

“I hope you have a good time” He says to them.

“Are you sure you are going to be ok? “ He asks me.

“Yes, I'm about to go home. I really appreciate what you guys did for me tonight.”

Once Agatha left, Moe and I stayed but he didn't say a word to me.

“Are you mad at me?” I break the silence.

“What? No, sorry. I was just lost in thought, thinking about how Agatha is so happy, you just got your heart broken and look at me, just moments ago I had girl willing to blow me in the bathroom but I said no.”

“Why?” I'm surprised that he turned down the offer.

“Because it's your night, I told her that we came here to celebrate and I told her that the only one that would enjoy herself would be you.”

I hug him and kiss his whole face.

“You are an idiot.”

“Yeah, well, let’s dance and finish our drink.”

And that's what we do. We drink and dance a few more songs. A few hours go by and the clock says it's midnight. Moe seems really tired.