Page 222 of Bound By Fire
“Are you sure you’re not still in love with him? That all of this is not about him?”
I let out a breath and level her with a stare because that came out of nowhere. “I thought we weren’t going to bring Ridge up. We agreed that it was done and over.”
“I’m changing my mind.”
“Carla—”
“You’re not over him.”
“I am,” I say with conviction.
“You said you were falling for him. That doesn’t just disappear.”
“You’re the one who told me it was impossible to fall in love in a handful of days,” I tell her. “You were right, and I was wrong.”
“I said that before I watched you go through what you went through.” Her voice is gentler now. “You look like you’re struggling with the breakup.”
“What breakup? We weren’t even together. Let’s drop this, please.” I implore her with my eyes.
“I want to drop it, but I’m struggling to believe that you don’t still have feelings for the guy.”
“Well, I don’t. I don’t need lying, cheating bastards in my life. It’s as simple as that.”
“Ridge is not Bruce, hon’. You seem to be forgetting that.”
“I know he’s not Bruce.” I snort.
“Do you? Because what happened with your ex is not related. You fell for Ridge, and now you don’t want to admit it. You’re choosing to ignore it and work instead of letting yourself think on it and process it.”
“You have it all wrong, Carla. I swear it. I will admit that I got addicted for a while there,” I say. “Addicted to his dick and all the orgasms he gave me. Not to him. There’s a big difference.”
“I think you’re lying, and I think you know it.”
“I’mnotlying.” I sound frustrated. “I’m done with Ridge. Can we please leave it there? I need to get changed into my scrubs.”
Carla doesn’t move.
“If you need to talk—” she starts.
“I don’t,” I tell her. “And I mean that in the nicest possible way. I’m fine, Carla. I am genuinely, honestly fine. I’m not lying to you or to myself. My biggest worry right now has nothing to do with Ridge. It’s about the clinics and all the restructuring. They’re all closing down, and I can’t absorb all of the staff. I’m going to have to make decisions I’m not looking forward to making.” I press my lips together. “I’m losing sleep over that. Not over him.” I look at her.
Then she says, “I’m here if you need me. I’ll help you with all of it.”
“Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?” I ask.
“Not enough.” A grin spreads across her face. “As long as you’re sure.”
“I’m very sure.” I mean it. Carla is being silly.
“All I ask is that you think about what we spoke about. That you give yourself an inch to breathe and that you think on it. You need a minute, Robyn.”
“I will.”
She takes my hand and squeezes it, and then I’m jogging to my bathroom to get changed into my scrubs.
