Page 194 of Bridesmaid for Hire
Startled, Gary unlocks his phone and taps away on it. “Call her?” he asks.
“Yesssssss,” I say as I fall in front of him, hands clasped. “Anything to hear her voice. Please.”
Patricia points at me. “See, he’s pathetic. Help him out. Just call and be like ‘heard things are bad with Brody.’”
“And put it on speaker. Christ, just end my misery, please.”
Gary stares down at me, shaking his head. But to my luck, he puts the phone on speaker, and I grip his leg as I wait for her to answer.
It takes three rings, but then her sweet, beautiful voice comes on the other line.
“Hey, Gary.”
I grip Gary’s leg tighter, and he shakes me off, swatting at me as he says, “Hey, sis. How’s it going?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MAGGIE
I STARE DOWN AT MYPHONEringing and mentally sigh. I’m surprised it took him this long to call.
Not in the mood, but knowing I won’t be able to avoid this phone call, I answer. “Hey, Gary.”
“Hey, sis, how’s it going?”
I take a seat on my couch and tug on my sleeve as I lean back. “Fine,” I say.
“Oh cool…” He’s silent for a second, like he’s trying to figure out what to say so I decide to help him out.
“I’m assuming you talked to Brody.”
“What? Brody…I mean…”
“It’s fine, Gary. I know you guys talked. I’d be shocked if you didn’t.”
“Yeah, we talked. I’m, uh, I’m sorry about what happened.”
“It is what it is,” I sigh. “I actually don’t want to talk about him.”
“Okay, sure. Yeah, I don’t want to talk about him either. He’s gross.”
I chuckle. “You’re an idiot, Gary.”
“Patricia informs me of that every day. So, if we’re not talking about Brody, then tell me about the trip, besides the whole Brody thing. Did the business thing work out?”
My lip trembles.
I haven’t talked to anyone other than Hattie about what happened because honestly, I can’t fathom what choice I’m going to have to make.It feels impossible to even try to make a decision. And now that Haisley is coming back from her honeymoon soon, I know Reginald is going to contact me, pressuring me to make a move, and I have no idea what that move should be.
I’ve just been going through the motions with work. I haven’t talked to Everly about the situation because I don’t want her to think that I put us in danger, but I have. I put the whole business in danger, including her career. What the hell am I supposed to do about that?
“Maggie, you there?”
“Sorry…yeah.” My throat grows tight. I hate that I’m about to cry, but I honestly don’t know what to do. “I, uh…I’m actually not doing so well, Gary.”
“Because of Brody?” he asks.
“Well, I mean…yes, I can’t even think about him or that situation without breaking down completely, but that’s not what I’m talking about right now.”
