quite an impression on you. I haven’t seen or heard
you get this passionate about anything for a long time. Even when that sorry ass Eugene
threw you over for that hussy, you didn’t sound this mad. This guy must be something
else.”
Maggie sighed. As much as she loved Montana sometimes she didn’t know when to stop.
“It doesn’t matter because I don’t work there anymore. Anyway, if there were a chance
in hell that I was interested in him, it wouldn’t guarantee he would be interested
in me as well.”
“Why not?”
“There are several reasons.”
“Like what?”
“For one, he’s mean, too young for me, and I’m not, I repeat, not looking for a man.”
Montana made a loud lip-smacking sound. “Too young? How old was this guy?”
“Can we please not talk about this anymore?” Maggie pleaded.
“Come on girl, this is the most interesting thing that’s happened to you in weeks.
I need details here. How young was he?”
“I don’t know. Early to mid-thirties. He could have been younger.”
“That sounds like such a lame excuse, Maggie. Besides, younger men love cougars. I’ve
dated my share of them. They’re attentive and insatiable in bed. Not only that, they
manage to stay up longer if you know what I mean. I bet if you—”
Maggie hung up. She loved her friend dearly and but sometimes when Montana got on
a certain topic she wouldn’t quit and frankly, Maggie wasn’t in the mood for it.
The phone rang and the caller ID showed Montana’s number. Maggie debated whether to
answer but figured if she didn’t her friend would keep calling until she did.
“Yes?”
“Don’t ever hang up on me again. That was not called for.”
“Montana, what’s not called for is how you repeatedly ignore me when I tell you I
don’t want to talk about something. I said I didn’t want to talk about my former boss
anymore but you had to keep going. Don’t you think the subject is still a sore one
for me?”
She was greeted with silence on the other end.
“Still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here. I didn’t realize my joking around would be such an issue for
you.”
“It’s not the joking around, it’s your inability to know when to quit.”
“Is that really what’s bothering you, or is it really because someone actually got
under your skin and you’re afraid to admit you’re still a woman with feelings? I’m
not saying anything is going to happen with this guy, but maybe it is time you realized
there are other men out there besides that reptilian little man you married.”
“That isn’t it at all. Maybe you just can’t admit when you’ve gone too far.”
“Maggie, we’ve known each other for years and I’ve said things way more over the top
than what I said earlier. It’s only when I suggest you focus your interest on someone
other than Eugene you get your panties in a knot. I’m sorry you quit your job, but
I’m not going pretend you have anyone to blame for this predicament but yourself.
So if you’re looking for someone to hold your hand, I’m the wrong person to talk to.
I’ve held my tongue long enough. You don’t need sympathy; you need to get your head
examined. For twenty-three years, you put up with Eugene’s shit. You even put his
sorry ass through college and law school while caring for two small children. You’ve
let him sabotage all of your friendships. It’s a wonder I’m still around, it’s certainly
not by his lack of trying to get rid of me.”
“I love you, girl,” Montana continued with a softened tone, “and that’s why I’m telling
you what you need to hear and not what you want to. Both of us grew up without a family,
and we’ve been bounced from one foster home to the next. You’ve been in bad homes
and so have I. So I understand why you latched onto that turd Eugene as if he were
the Savior. He represented all the things we never had, a family, a home, and stability.
But
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