by Leigh James
Pryce arched an eyebrow. “Am I the dog in this scenario, Ms. Delaney?”
“Yes, you are.” I laced my fingers through Bob’s and led him away from Pryce, toward the dining room. “Mr. Palmieri is brunching avec moi. So tell my mother to degage!”
“Your mother actually prefers Italian to French.” Bob shrugged then turned to Pryce. “Tell your puma boss that I’m too hungover to chat. Roberto Palmieri needs food.”
“Did you just call my mother a cougar in Italian?” I laughed. “Puma. I like that.”
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” He squeezed my hand before letting it go. “I really do need to eat.”
I’d only grabbed his hand to protect him from Pryce, but still, I felt rejected that he’d already let me go. Sense the theme here, Madison?
I sighed. “I’m hungover too. We should eat and get on the earliest ferry. I’ll check the schedule.”
“I can fly if you want.” Bob sounded resigned.
“No way, not after we did shots last night. The ferry’s just fine. We can get an Uber back to the city.”
The muscle in his jaw clenched. “I’m not in any rush to get back.”
“Okay. I’ll check the schedule,” I said, not wanting to ask what he meant. If I pressed for details, I would look desperate, and I’d already looked desperate enough for one weekend.
“Hey!” Josie and Claire waved to us from their table. I went to sit next to my cousin, but she put her hand over the chair. “That seat’s reserved for Mia.” She kissed me on the cheek and shooed me over to the next empty chair. “I love you but not in the same way.”
Bob’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Mia as in maid-of-honor Mia?”
“Ooh, I love a man who likes to gossip.” Josie beamed and clapped her hands together until she caught me glaring. “Or not.” She shoved a bite of French toast into her mouth so she wouldn’t say anything else glare-worthy.
“Yes, that Mia.” Claire grinned at us. “She’s very flexible. I might move her in when we get back to the city. We’re already picking out furniture.”
“But what about your girlfriend?” I cried. “I thought you were moving her in. Where’s the loyalty?”
“Um, you need to chill, okay?” Claire tossed her long raven hair over her shoulder. “You never even met her. Mia’s dreamy. She’s a keeper, I’m telling you. She’s the one. Wedding-guest sex is the best sex. Ooh, and it’s even better with a hot girl like Mia, who’s been in the closet her whole life. Girl went wild, let me tell you!”
“Um.” I cleared my throat. “Could you maybe spare us the details?”
Claire licked the syrup off her fork. “If I have to. But it was naughty. Mia’s making the naughty and the nice list this year. And we wear the same size shoes, so we can trade—you can’t beat that!”
Josie stopped eating long enough to collapse into a fit of giggles. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I know, right? The endorphin rush from my hormones is making me chatty.” Claire laughed. “So what about you guys? Anyone else feeling the morning-after glow?”
Bob coughed and looked down at his plate. Josie sighed and poured herself more coffee. I grabbed the pastry basket and put two blueberry muffins onto my plate. Then I stuffed a scone into my mouth.
“Sorry, guys.” Claire looked mock apologetic. “I had enough orgasms for all of us, though.”
I angrily buttered what was left of my scone. “You’re not my favorite cousin anymore.”
“Hey, babe.” Mia, clad in a long, gauzy flowered dress, dropped into the seat next to Claire. She unselfconsciously kissed Claire’s cheek. “So remember the wing chairs I was telling you about? They’re on sale through the end of the weekend. D’you think they’d look good in the sunroom, near the bookcases?” She whipped out her phone and started scrolling through photos.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “So… You guys are furniture shopping?”
Mia twisted a lock of blond hair around her finger. “Yeah, I think I’m going to sell my condo. I’ve been ready to get out of the Back Bay for a while. The South End’s so much cozier, you know?” She looked perfectly refreshed and gorgeous, eye shadow sparkling in the morning sun, not a trace of hangover in sight.
Fucking orgasms.
She leaned against Claire as they looked at the pictures. “Plus, it’s so much easier if we just have all of our stuff in one place. No going back and forth, you know?”
Claire oohed and aahed over the wing chairs or whatever the heck they were. She and Mia were an exquisite-looking couple, all light and dark mixed together. Their long hair flowed past their shoulders, blending together, and their neutral makeup palettes perfectly complimented each other.
“So you’re a lesbian now?” I blurted out at Mia.
Claire narrowed her eyes, but Mia patted her thigh. “It’s okay, babe. I got this. Just like we talked about, right?”
Claire frowned at me as Mia cleared her throat. “For me, love is all about the person. And this weekend, after years of searching, I finally found that person.” Claire rubbed her back as she continued. “Never in my life have I met someone that not only can I truly be myself around, but who ‘gets’ me. Claire and I can talk about hair and makeup, and her eyes don’t glaze over. We both care about interior design and cuticle care. We love foreign movies and miniature dogs. And I’ve never”—she tossed her hair over her shoulder for effect—“been as well taken care of in the bedroom as I have been this weekend. I mean, come on.” She jerked her chin in Bob’s direction. “You all really need to step up your game. I’ve never been satisfied like this.”
“Oh, baby,” Claire cooed, “I’m so happy you feel this way.”
“I feel like…” Mia choked up. “I feel like I’m coming home.”
Claire wrapped her arms around Mia, but their comforting feels-like-coming-home hug quickly got steamy. They started making out as the three of us stared. There was a lot of hair flinging. Claire grabbed Mia’s ass, and I saw Bob lean in a little as though he were trying to get a better look.
“Um, is anybody else uncomfortable?” Josie asked.
“I’m good,” Bob said, leaning in further.
“Claire—Claire!” I hissed. “Get a room!”
“Yes ma’am.” She winked at me as she pulled Mia up from the table. “Don’t text me; I’m going to be very busy.”
“Can we buy these chairs online after?” Mia asked.
“Of course we can, baby.”
“Sex and shopping.” Mia fanned herself. “I am living my best life.”
Claire grinned. “We can even do a sheet mask afterwards.”
Mia shook her head, her eyes shining. “Oh my God, I love you.”
With their arms wrapped securely around each other, they strode off.
Josie put down her coffee cup, positively stymied. “I mean…”
“I think it’s sweet.” Bob helped himself to some fruit. “They’re in love, and they’re happy. They can wear each other’s shoes. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing,” Josie and I both said glumly.
Bob glanced at me. “They’re lucky to have each other.”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, they are.”
“I don’t think it’s easy to find something like that.” He put down his napkin. “You know what? I’m not hungry anymore. I’m going to go for a run.” He was gone before either Josie or I could object.
“What’s up with him?” Josie asked. “I take it you two didn’t ride the love train last night?”
“No, we did not.” I motioned for the server and ordered a mimosa, hoping it would soothe the ache in my head. I vowed never to drink again after this weekend.
I blew out a deep breath as Josie waited. “He kissed me, but then he excused himself.”
“That doesn’t sound like the kiss of death—pun intended.” She laughed at her own joke until she saw the look on my face. “Uh-oh. There’s more?”
“I went in to his room to talk
to him, but he was on the phone. With her. Not only did she fail to make it down the aisle yesterday, but all she did was call him.” I folded and refolded my napkin. I guzzled half of my drink when it arrived. “I should’ve listened to Claire.”
Josie pointed at Claire’s empty seat. “Claire’s crazy. Claire’s moving Mia in after one weekend. Do not listen to her.”
“I just wish I could meet someone.” To my horror, my eyes filled with tears. “I wish I never invited him this weekend. It was stupid, and it made me realize…” I dabbed at my eyes and finished my drink instead of my sentence. It was too freaking humiliating.
“Realize what?”
I cleared my throat. “How lonely I am.”
Josie nodded, her own eyes bright. “I know, Maddy, I know. It’s going to be all right.”
“That’s what you always say.”
“I know that, too.” She smiled at me tentatively. “Did you ask him what he thought? About the ex not getting married and calling him?”
“Of course I did. I mean, I sort of did. I was too upset to talk about it last night, and this morning, the situation seemed even more dire in the light of day. And now my mother wants to talk to him.” I scanned the room for Aileen, but she was nowhere to be found. “Crap, I hope she’s not accosting him outside.”
“It’s your mother—of course she is. But he’ll be fine. He can handle himself.” She smiled at me encouragingly. “Right?”
“Right.” I took a deep, calming breath. And so can I.
“Do you want to talk about it some more?”
“No, it’s okay. Thank you for listening to me, though. You really are the best friend a girl could ask for.” Remembering not to be completely selfish, I focused on Josie. “What’s going on with you this week?”
“I have a business trip to Idaho of all places. This small company is making the most ah-mazing matte eye shadows. They’re all over Instagram, and my company wants to launch them nationally.”
“You’re going to be spreading happy news this week.”
Josie beamed. “That’s why I love my job. What about you?”
Talking about work with Josie felt normal, and it felt good. Neither one of us had much time for a social life, but we’d both been killing it professionally. “I can’t wait to get back home and get back to the office. I forgot I have a pitch this week to get that new brokerage firm as a client.”
“The one downtown?” I nodded as Josie held her hand out for a high five. “Go get ’em!”
Remembering my normal life and the obligations back home, I perked up. I might’ve been lonely, and the weekend might’ve been a disaster, but those things were only blips. My real life was waiting for me. I was good at my real life. Being swamped at work made it easy to ignore the loneliness that had crept up on me over the weekend. I’d been reminded of how the other half lived—the half that didn’t live in their offices or fall asleep curled up with their laptops instead of their partners.
I forced myself to smile at Josie. “What time are you heading back?”
“The noon flight—ooh, are you on it?”
“I told Bob we’d take the ferry. Flying doesn’t work for him.”
Josie nodded as she hopped up. “I should get packing.” She hugged me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I will be.” I hugged her back. “Thanks for being here this weekend. Want to have dinner when you get back from Idaho?”
“Sure thing. Good luck with everything. And Maddy, if Prince Charming talks, you know, maybe you should listen.” Josie smiled and waved. “Bye!”
I waved back, letting her words sink in. But the thing was, I’d already listened.
It hadn’t been what I wanted to hear, but sometimes life was like that.
Chapter Nineteen
BOB
I may have thrown up on my run, but I would never admit it. I wasn’t sure if it was the booze or the events of the past forty-eight hours that had my stomach roiling.
Katie had called me every five minutes that morning. Marta had called, too. My mailbox was full of furious voicemails. I had over fifty text messages, none of which I’d read.
I took my phone and threw it in the ocean.
Mrs. Delaney was waiting for me when I got back to the house.
“Oh fuck.” I stopped, panting, before I could muster the energy to approach her.
“Language, Roberto.” She was immaculate in a white pantsuit, and she didn’t look impressed with me at all.
“Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t think you could hear me from here.” I wiped the sweat from my brow. “Pryce said you were looking for me. What’s up?”
“What’s up is that you took a call from your ex-girlfriend last night at 3:28 a.m., right around the time I would’ve expected you to be with my daughter, satisfying her needs. Not your ex-girlfriend’s needs, not your needs, Madison’s needs.”
I blew out a deep breath. “No offense, Mrs. Delaney, but I didn’t know you cared.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The first time I met you, you called your daughter a nerd. You made fun of her for her success, the thing that she’s the proudest of. And you treated me like a mechanical bull you might like to ride—in front of Maddy. So forgive me for being confused by your concern. And by the way, it’s none of your business, any of it.”
Aileen squared her shoulders. “How I treat my daughter is my business. How you treat her is my business, too.”
“No, it’s not. And it doesn’t matter because she’s not interested in me. I blew it, all right? I took a call from Katie because I was worried about her. I’ve always been like that—too nice, my mother used to say. I wanted to make sure she was all right. Not because I care about her, but because I like to be a decent human being, and I also enjoy being able to sleep at night with a clear conscience. Maddy overheard me on the phone, and now she’s convinced that I’m not over my ex.” I put my hands on my hips. “So you win. Whatever you put in her ear about Katie and about me not being good enough for her, it finally stuck. So…yay. Find her a guy like Tim with an empire and a country-club membership—and go nuts. I’m out of here. Thank you for your hospitality.”
I stalked away, and she called, “Aren’t you going to listen to me?”
“No,” I said without turning around. “Because I don’t have to.”
I ran into Art in the hall. He was dressed in his tennis whites. I pointed at him. “I’m playing you before I leave.”
He looked taken aback, then wary. “Okay.”
“Where’s Frank?”
Art pretended to think about it. “Church. All day, I’m afraid.”
“Get him over here.” I continued the long stalk back to my room. “We have a match to play.”
“We’re going to miss the ferry,” Madison said as she followed me to the court.
“There’s another one at twelve. I checked the schedule.”
“Okay…” She looked at me nervously. “Why are you playing tennis with my father again? I thought you wanted to get going.”
“Oh, I do. Especially because you won’t even look at me.” I glanced at her, and she looked away. “But Frank needs me. I need to at least do one thing right this weekend.”
“I’m not sure my father’s going to like this very much.”
“So?” The question came out harder than I’d intended. “Who says you get everything you want in life?”
“Um, Bob…are you okay?”
“I’m great.” I smiled hard at her, making sure to flash the dimple.
She shook her head. “That’s not very convincing.”
“I’m working on my delivery. Isn’t that what this weekend’s all about?”
She stopped walking. “Why don’t we just forget about this and get out of here? My mother told me she accosted you again. I’m sure you’re feeling more than a little fed up with all of this.”
“Nope. I’m fine.” I headed directly to the court, even though I could tell Maddy didn’t
want me to do what I was about to do.
But fair was fair. Art had been right—I’d kept my poker face intact when we’d played before. But now it had slipped. Like Maddy had said, my act was no longer very convincing. And what was so bad about that? Why did I care so much about what these people thought?
I didn’t. When I’d thought I was doing Maddy a favor, it was one thing. When I’d thought there might be some sort of a future for us, it was another. Now that both of those doors had closed, I had no more fucks to give.
I patted Frank on the arm. “Are you ready?”
“Are you kidding me?” he cried. “I’ve been waiting for your call for thirty years!”
I smiled a real smile as I bounced the ball and Frank stretched.
Art came out by himself.
“Where’s Lucas?” I asked. “I thought we were playing doubles.”
“Lucas is benched.” Art smiled at me. “I brought in a more senior member of my team.”
At that, Tyler stalked out onto the court.
“Ah, you’ve got to be kidding me.” I scrubbed a hand over my face.
“Hey, I know you.” Tyler pointed at me. “You didn’t tell me we were playing Mr. Puke, Art!”
“This guy?” Art jerked a thumb at me. “He’s a puker?”
“Oh, it’s bad.” Tyler laughed. “He gets airsick.”
Art shook his head, his chewing gum visible as he smiled. “You’ve had a tough weekend, haven’t you, son?”
I smiled tightly. “I have a feeling it’s about to get better.”
The fake-friendly look disappeared from Art’s face. “We’ll see about that.”
Frank served first. We went game for game in the first set. Tyler was a tough opponent, a much better player than Lucas. He and Art were up after two sets, but when Frank and I had the serve again, we made them pay.
“Dammit!” Art threw his racket after he missed a return that I sent close to the edge of the court. Frank and I smiled at each other as he bent down to get it. “I saw you two just now!” he bellowed. “I am going to make you regret disrespecting me on my own court!”
