Manhattan Dreaming Read Online Free PDF

didn’t like him back.
    Just as our food arrived at the table, Libby gasped.
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Nothing,’ she said, and she put the paper aside. ‘Let’s eat.’ She ate a bit of dill sitting atop her eggs Benedict.
    â€˜Show me,’ I ordered and she reluctantly picked the paper up again and handed me the sports section.
    There it was: ‘THREE TRIES AND THREE WOMEN – FULLER’S TRIFECTA!’ I was devastated. They were triplets. One was almost wrapped around his thigh, another was pushing her crotch into his right leg. The third was standing behind him with her arms around his waist.
    One dignified tear ran down my cheek as I dropped the paper on the ground.
    â€˜I don’t want to talk about it, Lib. Please.’ I took my reading glasses off and put my sunglasses on to hide.
    â€˜You know why men do this, don’t you,’ Libby said gently, taking my hand.
    â€˜I said I don’t want to talk about it. Really.’
    â€˜Okay, then I’ll talk, you listen. Men behave badly like this when they know they’re not good enough for you, and they can’t measure up, even though they wish they could. As soon as they realise it they behave so badly that you have no choice but to break up with them, so they won’t look like the idiot dumping a good catch. Instead, they’ll be the wounded party. They’ll get the sympathy vote from their mates and other women who’ll go out with them.’
    â€˜But why? Why would anyone go to so much trouble to get out of a relationship?’
    â€˜Because men – some men – have egos the size of Lake Burley Griffin. None of them are going to admit they’re not good enough for you. And lots of men just don’t have the balls to break up with a woman. If they can hurt you with actions like that’ – she pointed to the paper on the floor – ‘they don’t have to say I don’t want to be with you. ’
    I picked up my cutlery and put a forkful of eggs into my mouth without looking at Libby, who kept right on.
    â€˜All’s I’m saying, tidda, is that it’s him , not you. You are the best and you deserve the best and you deserve some respect … and that …’ she said venomously, pointing at the paper on the ground again, ‘is not respect.’
    â€˜Can you stop, please? I just want to eat my breakfast without a major crying scene here. I like it here. I want to be able to come back.’
    We sat in silence eating our eggs. I stared out into Franklin Street at the grey sky, and wanted to be back in Goulburn with Mum. She’d make me a roast dinner and apple pie for dessert and the fire would be burning, and I would feel loved. I just wanted to feel loved.
    When the waitress came and cleared the table I smiled an insincere smile and then hated myself for doing it. It was the Canberra smile. It had taken me a while to get used to it. People just turn the corners of their mouths up to make an empty gesture of hello or thanks or whatever. I was feeling empty, though, and it was the only smile I could offer anyone. Libby was quiet.
    I picked the paper up off the ground and had another look at the man I loved being mauled by three strangers.
    â€˜Mum always liked Adam. She thought he was handsome,’ I said softly, sadly.
    â€˜Loz, we know he’s handsome, but we also know he’s not good for you.’
    â€˜I know, and Mum would actually be mortified. She didn’t raise me to be treated this way. And my dad would send my brothers over to look after him old way if he knew about this. I’m just glad they don’t buy The Canberra Times at home.’ I sighed with some relief. ‘What now, then?’
    Libby put her coffee down, placed her hand on mine and looked me square in the eye. ‘You have to tell him it’s over, properly. Once and for all, forever and ever, amen. Do it now.’
    â€˜What? He’s