CHAPTER 63
Tiffany
What would possess me to travel three thousand plus miles unannounced? I felt like a desperate dumbass. Why had I let Liz convince me that it was a good idea? I was so glad I hadn’t told my mother my plans. I think she would have probably permanently disowned me.
I cannot tell anyone that Warren proposed to another woman in front of my face. Karma was a hard and swift bitch. He didn’t even know I was coming; I guess he had already planned to do that. I had horrible timing.
I was back to square one, which was nowhere. I sat at the kitchen table wondering what I was going to do with my life, since winning Warren back was no longer an option. I was back home and my mother and Wilson were on their way out, but first they had to bother me and let me know how much my life sucked.
“Please put some makeup on and fix yourself up. I do not want to come downstairs and see you looking this way.”
“I will after I get something to eat.”
“You really shouldn’t be eating anything. Your waist is expanding more and more every day.”
“Be nice, Helen. There is some fruit in the pantry,” Wilson joked.
“Yes, and please return Damien’s calls. He has started calling Wilson at his office and I have twelve messages from him on my phone asking me to tell you to call. I don’t understand why he won’t leave you alone and just sign the divorce papers.”
“I don’t know, either, but I will ask him to stop contacting you both.”
After my parents left, I gave Damien a call. “Damien, sign the divorce papers and stop calling my family. It’s been months. Don’t you get it, I’m not coming back.”
“I understand that, but can you give me one weekend? Just one. I want to prove to you that I have changed and I’m doing better.”
“No. I’m not coming ever.”
“Tiffany, I have a place, just come and I’ll show you. If you like it, you can stay. If you don’t, you can go home.”
“Leave me alone and sign my divorce papers. I’d rather live in the room I grew up in than in poverty with you.”
“No, Tiff, it’s all good again. I bought another house. My investment paid off like I told you it would.”
“What investment?” I asked curiously. This had to be good.
“Remember, I told you people owed me money and they were going to pay me back ten times? It happened and I flipped a few houses. And I made enough to buy a new house in the next town over from our old house. I told you to be patient and things were going to start turning around, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you said that.”
“I put some money in your account. That’s what I wanted to tell you.”
“What account?”
“Your checking account. Do you see it?”
I pulled up my account on my phone and saw ten thousand dollars.
“Yeah, I see it. Thank you, Damien.”
“So go shopping today. And I’m going to put more money in there later in the week. I’m going to get you a flight. What day are you coming?”
“I’ll come on Friday.”
* * *
I couldn’t wait to go to South Park Mall. I felt like a kid who had been let off of punishment. I hadn’t been shopping in so long. When my mother and Wilson returned, I was dressed and heading out the door.
“Where are you going? You seem like you are in a good mood,” my mother asked.
“I am. Did you need anything? I’m going to South Park. Damien sent me money.”
My mother gave me a look like she didn’t approve.
“What? I can accept his gifts. That doesn’t mean I’m going back to him.”
“You most definitely shouldn’t.”
“Well, if you decide you need something, call my phone. It’s been a while and I’m just happy that Damien is trying to make it up to me.”
“That’s impossible, but enjoy your shopping.”
On my way to the mall down Interstate 77 my phone began to ring. It was Warren, but I wasn’t sure if I should answer.
“Yes.”
“Hey, Tiff, it’s me, Warren.”
“Warren? Yes, how can I help you?
“Don’t act like that, Tiffany.”
“Act like what? Act like you proposed to another woman in front of my face and didn’t embarrass me.”
“Ha, I embarrassed you? You don’t know about being embarrassed, but I can tell you about it. Embarrassed is having your girl stolen by a player on the same team and almost losing your mind and having to go to another school to save face.”
I was silent.
“So this is what this is about? Huh? You wanted to get revenge. Well, you got it.”
“Actually, it wasn’t. When I saw you at the auto show, I was excited and old feelings came back. I was in love with you. You were supposed to be my wife. I know I was wrong. I had a girlfriend and I should have told you about her.”
“A fiancée,” I corrected him.
“Okay, a fiancée. I’m sorry everything happened like this. I apologize. The timing is wrong this time around. You’re still married. I’m getting married.”
“Yeah, the difference is your knew my situation. And I can get a divorce, because we are not together and I have nothing to hide.”
“Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen this way. If you are open to us being friends, I want to be your friend. You know me. The real me, before all of this fame, and you know we had something special. Just know that I will always be in debt to you.”
“I know that you have changed. You are a big movie star now and one day you will have to pay that debt. Have a pleasant day, Warren. If I ever need you, I will call you.”
I ended the call. At least he had the decency to apologize.