He drops onto the foot of the bed, lounging back on one arm and toying with his glass. I’m just waiting for whatever it is he came to say. Because while Brendan is good at the silent, supportive gig, this is how he acts when he’s working up to a declaration.
His brow furrows, and with his attention still on his shot glass, he says, “I don’t understand what happened though. You said she needed a divorce to get a big contract”—he looks up—“which is fucked, by the way. But if she asked you for a divorce, why is she sneaking into Mom and Dad’s neighborhood looking for you?”
I shrug and mumble, “I found the papers and signed them without talking to her.”
Brendan cocks his head, but it’s Lauren who asks, “What was that? I don’t think I quite heard you.”
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and repeat myself. “She didn’t ask me for a divorce. I found the papers and signed them. She’s been acting strange all week, and I thought maybe it was just anxiety and stress about weighing all her options. I did my best to make it easy on her, letting her know I wasn’t upset she was considering a contract with a label over going indie with me. I thought maybe that was why she was being distant and not talking to me about it, that she was afraid I’d be upset. But then I saw this blank manila envelope, and I wanted to see if it was something important and put it where she wouldn’t lose it, and inside were the divorce papers, all filled out with little sticky flags for where to sign. I figured that was the real reason. She wanted to ask for a divorce and couldn’t figure out how. So I made it easy for her. I signed the papers, and I left so we could avoid the conversation she so clearly didn’t want to have.”
By the time I finish talking, they’re both staring at me, Brendan looking confused, Lauren with gape-mouthed, wide-eyed astonishment.
After a few seconds, she blinks a few times and closes her mouth, before straightening, looking me dead in the eye, and saying, “You are the dumbest dumbshit I’ve ever met. Like, I knew you were a little bit of a self-righteous asshole when you wanted to be, but this?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “I had no idea you could rise to this level of stupidity. Like … what the fuck, dude?”
“Lauren,” Brendan says. She closes her mouth at the sound of her name, still blinking at me before spinning on her heel and leaving.
At first I’m relieved, because the last thing I need right now is for my sister-in-law to berate me for being so stupid. And really, how was that stupid? I was helping Alexis. That’s all I’ve been trying to do all along. Yes, I’ve been helping myself too. But our needs were closely aligned. Once they weren’t, I removed myself from the equation. Why is that stupid?
But apparently Brendan only silenced Lauren so he could lay into me. “She’s right, you know.”
“What?”
He nods toward the open door. “Lauren. She’s right. You’re a dumbass.”
“Thanks, man. Thanks so much. I’m so happy I decided to come here so everyone could tell me how stupid I am.” I stand, running my hand through my hair in frustration, but I sway a little on my feet, because I lost track of how many shots of vodka I had. Lauren kept refilling my glass as soon as I drained it, and then Brendan took over when he claimed the bottle. I sit back down hard, and Brendan snorts.
“Why wouldn’t you at least talk to her? I know she’s called you. I saw you ignore at least one call right after you got here. She also texted Lauren, looking for our parents’ address.”
My head snaps up. “So that’s how she knew where Mom and Dad live?”
He shakes his head. “Lauren didn’t respond, because she wasn’t sure what to do. I guess Gabby gave her their address.”
“What?” That surprises me. Gabby always seemed so sweet. “Why would she do that?”
Brendan looks at me like I’m every bit the dumbass he just called me. “Because even after everything, Gabby thinks the best of everyone. She thought Alexis wanted to send Mom and Dad a card or a present or something. You know how she is.”
Right. I do know how Gabby is. That … actually fits completely. And since she didn’t know anything that happened this afternoon, she’d have no reason not to give Alexis Mom and Dad’s address. And if she reasoned Alexis wanted it to be some kind of surprise, she wouldn’t think twice about me not giving it to her.
Groaning, I bury my face in my hands. “How did this happen?”
Brendan claps me on the shoulder. “You decided you knew best. Like always. But dude, you don’t do shit like that without a conversation. Call Alexis. She’s really upset.”
“Of course she is,” I mutter. “She had a run-in with Mom.”
With a laugh, Brendan pads to the door. “I’m sure that didn’t help anything, but that’s not the real reason she’s upset. You are. Call her. Talk to her. Get to the bottom of this. If this is really what she wants, then fine. The air is clear. You can both heal your wounds and move on. But …”
That but hangs in the air, the promise of a million alternative realities suspended along with it. But if there’s more to the story …
But if she doesn’t really want a divorce …
But if there’s some way you can work things out …
But if she doesn’t take that contract …
But …
“Just call her,” Brendan says, then pulls the door closed behind him.
It sounds so simple. But somehow, it’s not.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Alexis
I scramble for my ringing phone, disappointed that it’s not Colt’s name on the display. But it’s Mia’s, and I haven’t talked to her in a while, so I answer. “Hey, Mia.” I’m forcing brightness into my voice that I don’t feel.
And Mia knows me well enough that she doesn’t buy it. “What’s wrong?” she asks immediately.
And just like that I’m transported back to the days when we were best friends. When she had my back and I had hers, and she and Katie were the two people I counted on most. I miss those days with a desperation that verges on hysteria.
So I fill her in on everything, fighting back tears as I tell her about Colt disappearing and me trying to track him down. “I still can’t find him.” I sniff, wiping a stray tear that’s escaped my control. “His phone’s off now, and no one seems to know where he is. Or at least, if they know, they’re not telling me. I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, it seems like you should do what you always do.” Mia’s voice is smooth and untroubled. Almost cold.
I sniff again. “What’s that?”
“Move on. Use him as a stepping stone to further your career. That was the whole point of being with him, wasn’t it? You’ve already done it to Katie and me. What’s the difference now?”
“What?” I’m so stunned that I can’t even make sense of her words.
She laughs, brash and mean. “You always had this goody-goody, doe-eyed, princess thing going for you. Keep it up. You’ve managed to salvage your reputation from the tarnishment of being associated with Katie and me, and now you can use it to get what you’ve always wanted, no matter who you leave behind in the process. Leave him in the dust, Alexis, like you do to everyone.”