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“Brady …” I pushed myself away from his desk. “At least he’s not acting like an asshole to Cooper and me, unlike someone else I know.”
I stood, knowing I wasn’t going to get anywhere with him. My hope deflated like a popped balloon, and I moved over to the door.
“You’ve always been someone who fights the current. Normally, I stand by your side with my arms around you, holding you in the water and helping you tread. But there’s only so much I can do, and I’m tired. I’m burned out. And I’m defeated.” My voice softened with each word. “Rhett, I’m sorry to say, but in this case, I’m going to let you drown.”
“Girl, you’d better slow down, or you’re going to be asleep in an hour,” Sky said as she picked up the bottle of wine to pour me a refill. “You know wine makes you extra tired, and that’s nothappening tonight. We have Chinese food on the way and some incredible desserts to devour, and I rented theBarbiemovie because everyone at work said I needed to watch it, so, sorry, you’re watching it with me.” She aimed the bottle at the edge of my glass. “Look at tonight like a marathon, not a sprint.”
Tonight wasn’t either.
This was what I called survival mode.
I was spread across her couch in yoga pants and a T-shirt, fuzzy socks, with my hair in a high, messy bun.
Attire I’d been dreaming about since I’d left the office.
“We’ll do it all, I promise,” I replied. “It’s just … been a day.”
My eyes closed, and I attempted to fill my lungs.
Just breathe.
That was what every meme, doctor, and online article said to do when you were on the verge of a panic attack.
Except I couldn’t breathe.
Everything was tight.
Everything hurt, even my body.
Everything was swirling in my head, moving so fast I couldn’t grasp a single thought.
“What’s going on, babe?” she whispered.
I felt the glass get heavier, and several seconds later, I heard the bottle being set on the table.
Sky’s hand then went to my head, playing with the hairs that had fallen from my elastic. “Talk to me, Row.”
I slowly turned my head toward my best friend, my eyes gradually opening. “I’d much rather talk about you.”
“About me? And my boring-ass day? How I busted my client trying to cheat the IRS out of thousands in taxes by attempting to manipulate his books?” She rolled her eyes. “Trust me, whatever you’re about to say is much more interesting than any of that.”
“It isn’t.Trust me.”
“Now, you’re just lying. Speak, woman. Before I do something silly, like grab your phone and call Cooper and ask him what’s going on with you.” Her face turned stern before I could say a word. “And don’t think I wouldn’t. You know I’d do anything to get my bestie to purge when I know she needs to more than anything.”
I didn’t deserve her.
And I was positive there was no one better in this world than her.
“I know you’re stressed,” she continued. “I’ve been hearing it slowly eat away at you during our calls and get worse every day. I kinda had a feeling you were reaching a breaking point.”
My hand went to her arm, holding it like it was Cooper’s hand. “I’m close. Closer than I’ve ever been.”
“Is it Rhett?”
I nodded. “He’s a giant dick, and we had it out today. Or we semi had it out. He didn’t say much, which you know makes me even angrier.” I bared my teeth and scrunched up my face. “But Rhett is only a portion of it. There’s Brady, too, Cooper’s brother, who isn’t a fan of us either. And then there’s the Canadian project, going from one hotel to two, doubling the amount of work that needs to be done. For the past week, I’ve stayed at the office past ten o’clock at night every evening, and I’m there before six every morning.” I stopped to guzzle more wine.
“You’re tired.”
