I scooped up a wine glass, and the open bottle of Merlot warming by the fire then poured myself a generous helping.
“That’s my girl.” Barb raised her glass in salute. “Drown your sorrows with alcohol. Wine makes everything so much better, don’t you think?”
I took a large gulp, and my body relaxed as soon as the honeyed liquid hit my taste buds. “I needed that.”
“Sit.” Barb patted the seat of the chair opposite her.
“I shouldn’t.” But I plopped down anyway, which made the wine slosh over the rim of my glass and drip onto my jeans. “I don’t have time. I have to read my texts, my emails. Have you seen my phone?”
“Stop fidgeting. You’re wasting wine.” Barb reached out and steadied my hand. “I have your phone. No calls or texts from lover boy if that’s what you wanted to know.”
I crossed my legs and arms. “You’ve been reading my messages?”
“Eh. When you were off having a pity party for one, someone had to make sure the sky didn’t fall.”
“I’m not fired?” I didn’t dare breathe.
“No.” Barb paused for a sip of wine. “Not yet.”
Masking my relief with what I hoped was an indifferent expression, I held out an upturned hand. “Phone.”
“On the mantel. You’re welcome, by the way.”
I reached for my phone, desperate to see for myself if Keegan had gotten in touch. I swiped through all my messages and emails. He hadn’t. And neither had Shane, which confirmed they were working together. Keegan must have told Shane the game was up, but I still wasn’t sure what that game was. As long as I lived, I never wanted to see either of them again.
“Told you so,” Barb said in a singsong voice.
If she hadn’t been the gatekeeper to Violet, I would’ve told her where to shove it.
“Go on, say it,” Barb said.
“Say what?”
“Shut up, Barb. Mind your own business, Barb.”
I thumbed through some spam emails before glancing up. “You’re a mind reader now?”
She churned the wine around her lipstick-stained glass. “I’m everything and anything I need to be. A bit like you.”
I didn’t take the bait and ignored Barb’s comparison. “Brendan said the airport’ll reopen tomorrow. Have you spoken to Violet? When’s her flight arriving?”
“The morning of the wedding.”
“You’re kidding? How are we supposed to have everything ready if the bride doesn’t arrive until a few hours before she’s due to walk down the aisle?” I stood, and power lapped around the kitchen. “What about Archer, when does he get here?”
“They’re arriving together.”
“Okay. I’ll do what I can to make sure everything goes to plan.”
“We still need to talk about what happened today.” Barb motioned toward my vacated seat.
I stopped walking. “Can’t it wait until after the wedding?”
“No. Now sit and finish your wine.” Barb inclined her head and gave a queenly wave. “Explain.”
I grasped the stem of my glass with both hands. Taking a generous and fortifying sip, I sank into the chair and gazed into the snapping flames. “I told you everything this morning. There’s nothing else to explain. I lied to save my ass. Keegan found out. He lied to me about knowing my ex. They were working together, which is worse than anything I did.”
“Why’d you come clean?” Barb asked. “A few more days and you and lover boy would’ve been home free. No one else had a clue. As long as the job got done, I didn’t care. And as much as you think I’m a heartless bitch, which I can be, I get that people do things to claw their way up.”
“Ulcer forming guilt, I guess. I dunno. I thought telling the truth would show Keegan I wasn’t a two-faced liar.”
Barb barked out a laugh. “That sure backfired, huh?”
“You think?” I took another long sip of wine. “So why haven’t you fired me and told Violet about my fantastical love story?”
“I like you. So what? You told a lie. Who hasn’t? And, hello, Romeo deserves those heels of yours lodged in his junk. He’s as much to blame for this three-ringed circus as you are.”
“Maybe. I don’t care enough to care about his part in all of this.”
Barb tilted her head. “Denial is a river in Egypt, ever heard of it?”
“I’m not in denial.”
“Bullshit.”
For a brief second, I closed my eyes. “I’m not. It’s the truth.”
Barb dismissed me with a flick of her fingers. “Whatever.”
I stood and walked to the sink, where I poured the remnants of my glass down the drain. “Think I’ll call it a night. Lots to do tomorrow.”
“You do that. Brendan and I have some things to… discuss.” There was a twinkle in Barb’s eye and dirty laughter in her voice.
“I’m sure you do.” I set my glass on the draining board and left the kitchen.
****
Since sleep refused to come, I sat in bed browsing through pictures and articles about Keegan on my laptop. For a while, I’d foolishly believed we could make it as a couple. Have a real relationship once Violet’s wedding was over. Dumb. In the long run, a relationship created from lies would never have worked. We wouldn’t have stood a chance.
When I’d needed his support, he’d turned on me—attacked my character—then walked away. To him, I was a business deal and nothing more.
The entire time he’d been plotting against me. Every word and every kiss calculated and planned. How could I have trusted him? Been so stupid, so blind? Once again, I’d let myself get swept away on a wave of romance and fairytales.
A tear slid down my cheek, and I used the edge of the comforter to wipe it away. The way Shane had broken my heart was nothing compared to
