Page 85 of The Love Hoax

“Mom’s been eating ice cream bars and bingeing CSI.”

I can’t believe my son is squealing on me. I give him my fiercest,don’t you dare say another wordlook.

He shrugs in response.

I get to my feet, crossing my arms. “What is this, an intervention?”

When no one replies, I drop my hands, exhale, and begin pacing. “I’m fine.”

Caroline watches the parading with her head on a swivel. “You are not fine and please sit down. I’m getting whiplash.”

A growing sense of irritation creeps up my spine. I come to ahalt. “Jeffrey, will you please excuse us? I need to speak privately to Caroline.”

Jeffrey looks wary but mumbles another “good night” and leaves.

I wait to hear his bedroom door close and turn back to Caroline. “Is that why you’re here? To give me a speech about Adam, tell me not to throw my life away? I’m not the one who blew it. We both did.” I plop onto the opposite side of the sofa.

“I only know the little you shared with me. But I’ve diagnosed the situation.”

“You have, have you?”

Caroline’s face turns serious and she downs the rest of her wine. “Marco cheated on you two decades ago, Evie. It’s time to give a new man a real chance.”

My jaw drops. “What in heaven’s name are you talking about? This has nothing to do with Marco.”

“Doesn’t it? A man you trusted and believed in. Your phone died and when you showed up at home earlier than expected, he was with another woman.”

My stomach flops. I don’t need reminders of that day. It’s still as clear as if I’d walked into my bedroom last week, finding Marco getting dressed, a woman I’d never met giggling in my bed, at least until she saw me standing there.

“Are you trying to be cruel or is it coming naturally?”

Caroline scoots over closer to me and takes my hand. “No, sweetheart. I’m trying to force some sense into you. Adam may have acted foolishly with the whole fake engagement thing?—”

“And the throwing-me-under-the-bus thing.”

“It was his sister’s wedding procession.”

I pull my hand away. “Whose side are you on?”

“Do you really need to ask me that?”

The fire has been lit. “If you hadn’t forced me to go on that trip alone, none of this would have happened.”

I hit the mark. Caroline’s face drops.

“I thought it would be good for you to live a little. You hadn’t taken a proper vacation in forever.”

“Well, this is what happens when I live a little, my friend. Thanks a lot!”

The hurt on Caroline’s face nearly breaks me. “Listen, I’m tired. I appreciate the gesture and your . . . caring but it’s not what I need.”

Caroline swallows hard then sucks in her lips.

Why isn’t she fighting back?

Because I pushed too far. She sent me on an all-expenses-paid vacation for my birthday and I’m yelling at her.

My emotions are all over the place. But after the reminder of Marco’s infidelity, I can’t bring myself to apologize.