"I wish he would just go into the light already."
"X better not be dead when I get there."
"I'll kill him for you, if you want?" Rebecca offered.
"You'll have to get in line," Riza muttered, knocking back a drink.
"I can make it look like an accident."
"I might take you up on that." Rebecca laughed, but Riza didn't feel like laughing tonight. She'd phoned Rebecca and went straight to the bar – Christmas' Bar, or something – ready for a bitching session and to drown her sorrows in alcohol.
She felt betrayed. Roy and that woman obviously had history, and while Riza wasn't entitled to that at all, apparently, they were "married". How much truth that had, Riza didn't know. A part of her was genuinely curious – how did this situation even come about? You couldn't make it up. Another part of her wanted to let him explain, but at the same time, it didn't. She'd had enough of him and his bullshit already. Did she give him a chance to spout more lies, only to tie her life up in another shit show a few weeks, or months, down the line?
"I wish he would just go into the light already."
Rebecca snorted. "Men, am I right?"
"You're lucky," Riza replied. "Havoc's a good egg. You didn't have to put up with this bullshit."
"Oh, don't worry," Rebecca reassured her with a laugh. "I most definitely did. I just managed to wade through that pile of shit then met the right person."
"You're lucky," Riza muttered sullenly, knocking back another drink. The alcohol was strong and burned her throat, but Riza preferred it that way right now. It took away that ache in her heart. She'd thought her person had been Roy. Oh, how wrong she had been.
How could he have kept something like that from her?
"From what it sounds like," Rebecca had tried to reason. "It sounds like Roy's telling the truth." When Riza raised an eyebrow questioningly, Rebecca elaborated. "I mean, I say "ugh, men", but how many psycho women are out there, claiming you're with "their man" when in reality the dude ditched them about a year ago?" She had a point there. "Do you know anything about the woman?"
Riza shook her head. "Other than she's drop dead gorgeous and made me feel like I was a product in the dollar store, no, nothing."
Rebecca bumped Riza's arm with her elbow. "You're worth so much more than that."
"You didn't see her," Riza grumbled. That woman's eyes still pierced her mind, looking down at Riza through them like she was a piece of dog shit.
"All I'm saying is give him a chance to explain."
"Why should I? He kept something like this from me, what else has he been hiding?"
Rebecca sighed. "Riza, listen, the man is in love with you. Completely smitten." What should have made butterflies flutter in her stomach created a lead weight instead. She loved him too. Still did, after this fiasco, and that made it even worse. The only other person who could make this better was probably cuddled up with his "wife" instead of her.
Riza could see why he'd go for a woman like her. She was elegant and beauty radiated from every pore. She was another class, pushing Riza down to the ground and out of sight. In all honesty, Riza wouldn't be surprised if Roy went back to that woman. She was so much better looking than plain old Riza.
"Anyway, just hear him out. Please." Riza shook her head. "For me?" Rebecca pleaded. "Please? I know how you feel about him, and I know how much he loves you. You'd be silly to throw that away over a little misunderstanding."
"Don't trivialise my feelings," Riza muttered.
"I'm not, and I don't mean to. You don't need to act on anything," Rebecca stressed. "Just hear him out. I'll come with you."
Riza was quiet, eyeing her drink in front of her.
"Fine."
Riza noticed Rebecca's body relaxed in relief out the corner of her eye. "Thank you."
Riza didn't owe him anything. She knew that. However, Rebecca would never shut up about it until Riza did agree to a meeting. She didn't have to do shit with his explanation. She'd hear him out for Rebecca's sake, then be on her way.
She had to look out for number one. She had to protect herself.
"Tomorrow? In the coffee shop around from work."
"Fine."
"Roy better not be dead when I get there," Rebecca quipped, standing from her chair.
"I can't make that promise," Riza muttered, lifting the shot glass to her lips and downing the liquid.