Shit. They all knew something else was going on, and they weren’t going to drop it. I was going to have to tell Florrie anyway, and when she found out, she would tell Craig. And there was no fucking way that Craig was going to walk away without telling at least one or two people. With any luck, I might be able to convince the others that Craig had to keep his mouth shut, and they might help me with that.
I sighed and glanced back to make sure Cap’s door was closed. “Look, I went to talk to Reid this afternoon and I walked in on him and Caitlin kissing in his bedroom.”
Cazzo burst out laughing and Burg shook his head. Sinner just looked stunned.
“You are so fucked,” Cazzo laughed.
“Aww,” Florrie sighed. “Reid had his first kiss. I can’t believe I missed it.”
“Be glad you missed it,” I sighed, “It was awkward as fuck.”
“I can’t believe this shit,” Sinner said.
“What part?” I asked.
“I’m finally off the hook.” Sinner’s face split into a huge grin and he let out a loud whoop. “See, all this time, I’m the one that’s been on his shit list because of Maggie. And I could never figure out how to get off the list, but it looks like you just took first place.”
“But I didn’t put Caitlin up to it. In fact, Reid told me that Caitlin started everything.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna matter,” Burg chuckled. “You’re fucked, because in Cap’s eyes, Reid is older and he’s your kid.”
“And, Caitlin was in Reid’s room,” Cazzo pointed out. “Basically, you’re fucked.”
I looked to Florrie for help, but she just shrugged. “What? Caitlin is just like her mother. I have no doubt that she started this whole thing. She’s trouble and she’s looking to stir shit up. Nothing you can do about it now. You just have to hope when shit starts running downstream you’re not in the path.”
“But we’re responsible for Reid,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, but you’re the guy. This really falls more in your territory. Cap’s not gonna blame this on me.”
I stared at her, completely baffled that she was throwing me under the bus. “I can’t fucking believe you! What happened to you being equal to us in every way?”
“Well, sure, but those rules don’t apply here. Besides, you’re a guy. I’m sure you can explain this away.”
“His daughter is involved!”
“Yeah, you’re fucked,” Cazzo laughed. “There’s no possible way you can spin this that doesn’t end up with you in a body bag.”
“Well, what should I do? I mean, I already told Caitlin not to say anything to Cap, so I should be good, right?”
“Did you follow the trail?” Sinner asked.
“What trail?”
He rolled his eyes. “Haven’t you ever seen Friends?”
I shook my head, not really sure what that had to do with anything.
“Look, on Friends, Ross slept with someone while he was on a break with Rachel-”
Burg snorted. “Sure, if you want to call that a break.”
“It was a break,” Florrie insisted. “The lines of the relationship were clear.”
“Oh, so it doesn’t matter that they had just broken up?” Cazzo asked. “So, if you and Alec broke up, he could go out and sleep with someone the same night and you wouldn’t care?”
She fucking shrugged. “Once you break up, neither party has control over what the other does.”
“Hey,” I said indignantly. “If we ever break up, you most definitely do not get to go out and fuck another guy.”
“I’d like to see you stop me,” Florrie snapped.
“It doesn’t matter because we’re not fucking breaking up.”
“Hey, you’re missing the whole point,” Sinner cut in. “Anyway, Ross goes out and sleeps with another woman, but he doesn’t want Rachel to find out. He had to follow the trail of people that his one night stand might tell that could lead back to Rachel. You have to follow the trail,” he said, hammering his fist into his other palm with every word for emphasis.
“She’s fucking ten. What kind of trail could there be?” I asked.
“Who’s her best friend?” Cazzo asked.
“Uh…”
“It would be…”
“Maybe…”
“What the fuck?” I shouted. “Do none of you know who she hangs out with?”
“They all hang out together,” Burg pointed out. “It might be Maggie. I mean, she’s Maggie’s mini-me.”
“But Maggie wouldn’t rat me out, right? I mean, she wouldn’t purposely make Cap insane.”
Sinner laughed. “Yeah, you keep thinking that.”
“I think you’re missing someone very important that she would tell,” Florrie said.
“Who?”
Florrie turned to Sinner with a smirk, then pointed to him.
“No,” Sinner said, holding up his hands. “No, I am not involved in this. I just worked myself out of the line of fire. I will not go back.”
“Sorry, man, but she’s right,” Burg laughed. “Caitlin would go to you in a heartbeat. You’re cool Uncle Sinner. She trusts you, and she knows that you keep secrets for her mom all the time from her dad. She’s going to run to you, and when she does, you’re going to have to decide which side you’re taking.”
“But…no, there are no sides. I won’t be dragged around like this! I’m not getting taken down by a ten year old!”
“How do you figure you’re getting taken down? Reid is my kid,” I pointed out.
“Yeah, but when Cap finds out that I knew about his daughter kissing your son, I’m a dead man. He’ll look at me like I put her up to it with my manwhore ways.”
“But you’re not a manwhore anymore,” Florrie said.
“It doesn’t matter! Don’t you see? To Cap, I am the reason that Maggie gets into so much trouble, and now, by extension, her kids!”
The door to Cap’s office flew open and we all spun around, facing him like we were facing a firing squad. Cap stepped out, only to stop when he saw us all gathered down the hallway. “What’s going on?”
“What?” I croaked, clearing my throat. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Yeah, we’re just hanging out,” Sinner added. “Just…shootin’ the breeze.”
“Is there something you
