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Except where she didn’t.
Living with Hadley for two-and-a-half years had given Devon a certain insight into her behavior that most people wouldn’t normally pick up on. Her eyes seemed a bit more hollow than normal. Her suit was too loose, like she had lost weight. The bounce in her step was missing entirely. Hadley was in a low place even if she appeared perfect on the outside.
Hadley sat down in her normal seat. She lifted her head, looked directly at Devon, and then snapped back to face the front.
Devon sighed. So, that was how it was going to be. This was some kind of turf battle. Devon certainly didn’t have a problem with her being there. She just wished it were under different circumstances.
Bre
When Hadley’s order was ready, Bre
“What’s up?” she asked i
“Will you take this out to Hadley?” he asked just as i
Devon bit her lip. “Are you sure she won’t throw it at me?”
“You’re the one not answering questions,” he said.
Devon didn’t even have a retort for that. She couldn’t answer questions—plain and simple. She wasn’t confident enough to tell anyone what had happened. Maybe when she went back to St. Louis in the fall, she would find that it was all in her head.
Instead of responding, she took the tray from Bre
“You can go,” Hadley said coldly.
“Hadley, I’m sorry,” Devon whispered.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I just want to eat lunch.”
“Can’t we talk?” Devon asked.
Hadley stood fiercely and glared at Devon. She turned on her heel and walked toward the door, and Devon just stood there, dumbfounded. Devon had never known Hadley to hold a grudge, especially not one this ferocious. Were the drugs addling her brain this much? How much more was she using since she and Devon had last spoken?
Devon rushed around the bar, but Bre
“Come on, Hadley,” Bre
“Why are you sticking your nose in this?” Hadley asked.
“Why aren’t you giving her a chance? Didn’t you say she was your best friend? Haven’t you known each other for years? What could possibly be keeping you from making up with her?” he asked pointedly.
“Oh god, not you, too,” she said. “Don’t become a hypocrite. I don’t need to hear it from you as well.”
“Hadley, I don’t give two shits about what you’re doing in your free time. I only care about who you’re hurting—yourself and Devon. This goes beyond you. Just give her a chance.”
Devon could see the hard look in his eyes even from where she stood. She marveled at his smooth words. He wasn’t one for conversation when they worked together.
“I can’t deal with this right now,” Hadley said, pushing him away.
He reached out and took her arm again. “It doesn’t all have to be better today. But don’t you think she’s hurting, too?”
When he lowered his voice, Devon strained to hear.
“Don’t you see that she’s here for a reason?” he whispered.
Devon lost the rest as her stomach dropped. How could Bre
Retreating a couple more feet until she was entirely out of earshot, she contemplated how she had let this happen. When had she allowed herself to be this secure? When had she forgotten how tenuous the thread was, and how easily it could snap, bringing down all her nightmares around her?
This wasn’t just about Bre
Devon bit her lip and tried to hold in all her emotions. She had to deal with Hadley first.
After her conversation with Bre
“Can we talk…in private?” Hadley asked, obviously still unsure about it all.
“Yeah,” Devon said. “Let me just tell Amy that I’m taking a break.”
HADLEY AND DEVON sat in the break room in the back of Je
“So…” Hadley said.
Devon nodded. “So…”
“I see you have a job at Je
“Yep,” Devon said. She didn’t know what Hadley wanted to say, and she thought it was best to allow her to direct the conversation.
“How did that happen?”
“Bre
“He’s a nice guy, that one,” Hadley said absentmindedly.
“So it seems.” Devon said.
“I guess I’ll just go ahead and say it. I’m pretty pissed at you, and it’s not going to get better right away,” Hadley said. “You violated my trust, not to mention my hospitality. It’s going to take a while before I start to trust you again.”
Devon nodded slowly, not sure what to say. That much was true.
“But…I know that I violated your trust, too. I’m not going to talk to you about my problems. They’re mine. When I’m ready, we’ll figure it out, but until then, I don’t want you to interfere.”
“Hadley,” Devon interrupted. Hadley had to be reasonable.
“No,” she said, holding up her hand as she stood. “They’re my issues. I’m not begging you to tell me yours, and I know you have some. I’ve always known, but it’s your business.”
“I think you need help, Hadley,” Devon said softly, feeling like a hypocrite.
“I think you don’t know everything about what I’m going through. All I’m saying now,” Hadley said, taking a step toward the door, “is that I’m tired of tiptoeing through my life. I’ll come and go as I please. I’ll be at the apartment and Je
“Hadley, please,” Devon said, desperate to reach her friend. “I am sorry about what happened.” She choked on her words, wishing that it could all go back to the way it was.