Page 132 of Things I Overshared

“He can’t have kids,” I say, my voice getting shaky again. It’s been a few hours since Emerson left, and it’s taken almost all that time to calm myself.

“That’s all he said?”

“Yeah. He knew I loved kids, and instead of telling me the truth, he made the decision for me and decided to say the most hurtful, manipulative thing he could, throwing all my insecurities in my face like a psycho coward. And then he bolted.”

Adam huffs. “Well, did he apologize?”

“He tried to.”

“Did he tell you how he feels about you?”

“He tried to do that too, but I wouldn’t let him because it doesn’t matter. He hurt me in the worst way, on purpose. You don’t do that to someone you love.”

Adam makes a weird sound on the other end. Then he asks, “Did he say anything about before?”

“What before? Chelsea? He implied that that was why they broke up, or when he found out. I’m not really sure. You know how he is. He said like four freaking words, total.”

“Damn moron.”

“What?!” I choke on the sangria Sadie made us, because Adam, like his wife, my dear eldest sister, never, ever cusses.

“I gotta go. Hang in there, Sammy.” Then he ends the call.

What the hell was that?

“That was Adam?” Sadie asks next to me on the couch, also shocked. I quickly relay the super-weird conversation in its entirety. “Before? What did he mean before?”

“I don’t know.”

“Call him back and make him tell you.”

I sigh. “I don’t know if I want to know. It’ll just be more painful, confusing BS that almost kills me. I’m tired, Sade.”

“All right. Maybe we’ll leave it for now.”

“Yeah.”

She presses play on whatever movie I’ve been pretending to watch.Breathe, Samantha. Breathe. You did the right thing. You stood up for you. No crap. Just breathe.

Chapter 42

Two Weeks Later

My phone starts to ring just as I make it into Sadie’s kitchen. I plop down my binder and water tumbler on the counter before digging into the side pocket of my new giant work purse. It’s Susan, probably calling to see how my first full week went. In the five weeks since my life imploded, I’ve done quick work of rebuilding it. I love the new job and living with Sadie, even if Dallas isn’t quite New York.

I answer with a genuine smile. “Happy Friday, Suze!”

“Hey, Sammy girl! How was your first week!?”

I smile at her genuine enthusiasm.

“It was amazing. I love it so much.”

“Yassssss! I knew you would. You’re going to crush the whole industry.”

“Aw, thanks. How was your week? How are the boys?”

“Fine, fine. Hey, listen, I need to tell you something.” Her tone changes, and my stomach tightens.