Deleted Scene
*This will only make sense if you've read the book. It's the deleted scene showing the break up between Nora and her ex. It's the reason she's not friends with her ex-best friend anymore.
I neared the front of the line to the beach snack shack and checked the menu above the order window. Fries and a soda would hit the spot. I glanced around. People of all ages strolled on the crowded boardwalk. A woman’s gorgeous red ponytail grabbed my attention. Zoe had long red hair that I was so envious of. My brown hair, whether up or down, did nothing for my fair skin and freckles. When the girl with the red hair spun around, my head hitched back. It was Zoe. What was she doing here? She was supposed to be taking her mom to the doctor’s office.
A guy stepped up beside her and draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her into his side. I froze, my heartbeat screeching to a halt as a cold chill rushed over my body. I stood dumbstruck as she kissed my boyfriend’s lips.
There was no denying it was Rick. Same dirty blonde hair. Same barbed wire tattoo on his bicep.
“Can I help you?” a snack shop employee asked.
I couldn’t move from my spot. I couldn’t focus on anything but the emptiness filling my gut. They were destroying a year-long relationship and a three-year friendship, and all I could do was stand there and watch it happen.
I glanced to the window. The cashier waited for me to speak, but I’d lost my voice and my appetite. I stepped out of line with my mind whirling. I pulled in a breath and beelined it straight for Rick and Zoe. They hadn’t noticed me. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them. My heart raced, the pounding in my ears muffling everything else happening around me. I was ten feet away and they were still kissing.
My mouth grew dry.
Eight feet…
My stomach roiled.
Six feet…
My mind spun.
Four feet…
My teeth clenched.
Two feet…
I stepped up to them, shoving my index finger into Zoe’s shoulder.
They finally broke apart, and I watched as the lust in their eyes morphed into shock. “Surprise,” I grinned. “How’s Grandma?” I asked Rick who’d claimed he needed to visit his grandma in the nursing home today. My eyes shifted to Zoe. “And your mom? Did she make a speedy recovery?”
They stood speechless.
Cowards.
“That’s what I thought.” I shook my head, my disgust palpable. I stared at Zoe. “You are disposable.” My eyes cut to Rick. “And you are like every other guy.”
“I can explain,” he scrambled to say.
“Save it!” I shouted, not even recognizing my own voice.
“Nora, it’s not how it looks,” Zoe began, her voice lowered so not to cause a scene.
But I didn’t care about a scene. My fists tightened at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. “You need to stop talking. I’m done with you.”
Her shoulders wilted.
I looked back to Rick. “And you. You aren’t worth it.” Tears stung my eyes which pissed me the hell off. He wasn’t worth it. I cocked back my arm and released my fist, punching him square in the face. He doubled over. Zoe cried out. I cradled my fist, wincing at the unexpected pain radiating in my knuckles.
I moved closer to Zoe who was consoling Rick. She stumbled back, scared she was next. But she wasn’t worth it either. If she wanted to throw our friendship away for a guy who would cheat on me with her, she deserved a guy who would turn around and do the same to her.
A guy stepped up beside her and draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her into his side. I froze, my heartbeat screeching to a halt as a cold chill rushed over my body. I stood dumbstruck as she kissed my boyfriend’s lips.
There was no denying it was Rick. Same dirty blonde hair. Same barbed wire tattoo on his bicep.
“Can I help you?” a snack shop employee asked.
I couldn’t move from my spot. I couldn’t focus on anything but the emptiness filling my gut. They were destroying a year-long relationship and a three-year friendship, and all I could do was stand there and watch it happen.
I glanced to the window. The cashier waited for me to speak, but I’d lost my voice and my appetite. I stepped out of line with my mind whirling. I pulled in a breath and beelined it straight for Rick and Zoe. They hadn’t noticed me. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them. My heart raced, the pounding in my ears muffling everything else happening around me. I was ten feet away and they were still kissing.
My mouth grew dry.
Eight feet…
My stomach roiled.
Six feet…
My mind spun.
Four feet…
My teeth clenched.
Two feet…
I stepped up to them, shoving my index finger into Zoe’s shoulder.
They finally broke apart, and I watched as the lust in their eyes morphed into shock. “Surprise,” I grinned. “How’s Grandma?” I asked Rick who’d claimed he needed to visit his grandma in the nursing home today. My eyes shifted to Zoe. “And your mom? Did she make a speedy recovery?”
They stood speechless.
Cowards.
“That’s what I thought.” I shook my head, my disgust palpable. I stared at Zoe. “You are disposable.” My eyes cut to Rick. “And you are like every other guy.”
“I can explain,” he scrambled to say.
“Save it!” I shouted, not even recognizing my own voice.
“Nora, it’s not how it looks,” Zoe began, her voice lowered so not to cause a scene.
But I didn’t care about a scene. My fists tightened at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. “You need to stop talking. I’m done with you.”
Her shoulders wilted.
I looked back to Rick. “And you. You aren’t worth it.” Tears stung my eyes which pissed me the hell off. He wasn’t worth it. I cocked back my arm and released my fist, punching him square in the face. He doubled over. Zoe cried out. I cradled my fist, wincing at the unexpected pain radiating in my knuckles.
I moved closer to Zoe who was consoling Rick. She stumbled back, scared she was next. But she wasn’t worth it either. If she wanted to throw our friendship away for a guy who would cheat on me with her, she deserved a guy who would turn around and do the same to her.