Previously

Alice got back to the hotel to find a message waiting for her at the front desk from Shane telling her to meet her in the bar. Alice walked in and saw Shane sitting with Dana and turned to leave. Shane caught up to her before she could leave.

“Alice, please come sit down.”

“Shane, I’m glad she didn’t sleep with Michelle, but she did kiss her and she did lie to me and I am just not up to talking to her.”

“I have an idea and need both of you to do it. It won’t kill you to have a drink with her. Just come join us.” Shane turned back towards her table, knowing that Alice would follow and begrudgingly, she did.

“Hey Al.” Dana timidly said.

With a fierceness that Dana wasn’t used to, Alice replied, “Don’t. I’m not here to talk to you. Shane said she had an idea to get us out of this mess. That is the only reason I’m here.”

“OK.”

“So McCutcheon, this had better be good. What’s this plan of yours?”

Drowning 34

“Seriously, Shane, that’s the big plan?” Alice said, as she started to rise from the table. “I appreciate that you want to help us out, but this isn’t going to do anything but annoy me.”

“Al, wait.” Dana said.

“What Dana?” Alice spat. 

“Just listen to her. I didn’t like it either at first, but the more I think about it, the better I think it is.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re the one I’m going to turn to for advice on sound judgment? If I remember this correctly, it’s your judgment that got us here.”

“I know you’re upset with me, Alice. I get that. And you should be, but all we want to do is find a way make sure that you aren’t bothered anymore. Really, that’s all we want.”

“Thank you so much for the permission to be angry at you. I feel so much better now that I’m allowed to be hurt and pissed off. It really sucked when I thought I was out of line for being upset by my girlfriend cheating on me, lying to me and then breaking up with me just to make sure I didn’t find out she cheated.”