“Gabs, come on! I said I don’t want to read that!”
Meeting my eyes she keeps right on going. She’s stooping this low to get back at me for not reciprocating her desire? What the fuck?
Since this is my fault, I’ll sit here and take it.
Then she’s fired.
But as I listen, confusing sentences fall from her lips. My head clears with each. My ears perk up as Gabriella reads the most well-written rebuttal I’ve ever heard. It’s scathing yet cloaked in wit, exactly what you’d love to say to a small-minded, dark-cloud of a person who dirtied your clean reputation, and got off on it. Haven kicks the article and video in the proverbial nuts while feeding the public bon bons of truth they can’t deny.
Gabs pauses to look at me. “It ends with…
For me, the excitement and unpredictability is why we go to whatever Billy Cooper invites us to, in the hopes of a respite from those oh-so-boring doldrums of normal, day-to-day life.
Fun is necessary—
No…vital.
Crucial!
For one sad reason that you have exposed to us, my dear poor yellowed Banana.
Unhappy in their lives, good people will become undesirable company as they angrily punch anonymous keyboards releasing locked-up sadness, discontent, frustration at their unlived dreams, from their hearts so that it has somewhere— anywhere!—to go.
You know how we know this to be true?
Have you ever seen a happy person be cruel?
When you’re satisfied with your life, enjoying your days, living your dreams, loving your partner, your children, your future, you don’t leave behind a trail of mean.
You simply don’t have the time.
For those who are wondering, Billy Cooper is a good man who provides one hell of a party. If you need to bring a second pair of panties to enjoy it, then his ticket is worth the price.
Gabriella takes a deep breath and drops her phone to her side. “I didn’t realize you thought it was her, or I would’ve told you about this article earlier.” Sighing, she stares at the abstract rug under my couch. “I knew you hadn’t seen it, though. So I’m to blame for hiding it for another reason.” Locking eyes with me, Gabs flatly says, “I knew you liked her. And I knew you’d like her more now. Part of me was jealous. I wanted a chance.”
Rising up I pull her into a hug. “Gabs, I had no idea you liked me. I would’ve talked it out with you. It’s just,” I pet her head, “not going to work, you know?”
“Yeah,” she whispers, leaning into me. “I know.”
We separate and awkwardly stand in the middle of my living room. She raises the phone and opens the screen again, holding it out for me. “She’s got an email address on here.”
A grateful smile spreads on my face for having such a good person in my life. “Thanks, Gabs. You’re pretty fucking awesome, you know that?”
She shrugs, “I want to be one of the happy ones.”
CHAPTER 14
HAVEN
Bryn and I are shopping at the Trader Joes on Monroe, splitting the cost of stocking up our fridge like we always do.
“I’m so glad I saved some money, because it will take time before blogging brings me a profit.”
“Yeah, but you got a couple hundred more subs in two days?”
On a smile I nod while grabbing triple ginger cookies from the shelf over the freezer section. “I’m getting letters from people saying they really like my writing, and are waiting for the next article. It’s true what they say: your vibe attracts your tribe.”
She pushes the red cart down the aisle with me grabbing things I know we both love. “Have you heard from Billy yet?”
My smile fades and I bite my lip. “Stop asking me that. I would tell you. I’m sure he’s really busy. Or maybe he never saw my article.” Inwardly shrugging it off, I grab frozen edamame and throw the bag into the cart from four feet away.
She watches it land, and adjusts it to lean against the other cold items. “It’s been a couple weeks. I really thought he’d write to you. Or call, or something. He kissed you, after all. I mean, what the hell?”
“You’re preaching to the choir. I don’t want to think about it anymore, okay?”
“Okay. Let’s get some popcorn and have a movie night.”
“Your date was tonight, no?”
Bryn rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t feeling it.”
I toss wheat bread into the cart. “Harlow going out?”
“Call her.” Bryn sets the bread in the baby-seat so that it doesn’t get squashed. Her eyes light up and I turn around to see Wyatt Cocker in uniform, strolling up with his partner, both holding the ready-to-eat salads they sell here, and a couple bottled waters.
I know it’s his partner because of social media’s obsession with Wyatt’s good looks. They’re always together in the photos.
His smirk is something else as he says, “Well, if it isn’t the flapper and the savior.”
I dryly remind him, “Thanks for remembering, but I was dressed as a witch.”
“I’m referring to your blog, Haven,” he says pointedly to let me know he remembers me, my costume, and my name. “Billy told me what you did. I didn’t read it, but I heard it was great. You really made him feel good. Got his confidence back up.” Wyatt turns to Bryn. “You two live together, or just shopping as a pair?”
“Haven is my girlfriend. We’re together. Romantically.”
I shoot her a look. I don’t want that lie getting back to Billy. I’m still holding out hope that I might see him again.
Bryn laughs, “I’m kidding!” but the look in her eyes betrays that she’s bummed—she really wanted to mess with Wyatt. Can’t blame her there.
He chuckles and glances up. “This is my partner, Deputy Washington.”
A deep bass says, “Ladies,” as he dips his chin.
Wyatt asks, “You going to Gratitude-Giving Night?”
“To what?”
He tucks his thumbs in his pockets, taut hips thrust forward a little. “Billy’s Thanksgiving party. He found a new warehouse even better than the last. Better
