“I know, but he’s rich, and you’re not getting any younger.”
“You sound like Granny Mavis. She never liked Nathan. She doesn’t like any of my boyfriends.”
“Except McCarthy.”
“Boyfriends, not clients with control issues.”
“You need to go to the police about Nathan.” Hannah’s face is serious. “I mean, you need to go to them about all your ex-fiancés but Nathan especially. I think throwing someone out of a car is a felony.”
“And say what? Nathan’s just going to lie and tell them that it was just a relationship issue and that I’m trying to weaponize the law against him or some nonsense.” I look at Truman, who’s sitting on Hannah’s desk, sniffing her pothos plant.
“Besides, then Nathan could tell them that I stole Truman. I can’t risk them taking my baby away.”
“Nathan’s not going to give up. You publicly humiliated him,” Hannah says. “I’ve been stalking his affair partner’s Instagram, and she is dogging him out. He’s crazy. He’s going to do something violent.”
“No, he’s not. I know Nathan. I’ve been with him for years. He’s not actually capable of actually hurting me,” I scoff. “I’ll just avoid him.”
“Stay at McCarthy’s for a couple weeks, at least,” Hannah says, begging. “You said he offered.”
“I said he ordered. Anyway, the offer is rescinded. Don’t look at me like that—it’s for the best. Bethany will flip if she finds out I’m living at my freaking client’s penthouse.” I sigh. “I’m not McCarthy’s girlfriend. When he gets bored of gloating about winning, he’ll kick me out anyway. Then I’ll be homelessandjobless. This way, I’m just homeless.”
My friend is slowly shaking her head.
“Soooo…” I rock on my heels. “Do you think I could crash at your place for a couple nights? Just until I find something.”
Hannah looks guilty. “My roommate and her boyfriend are on the fritz again. He’s got the couch. But we can make a pallet for you. I think it will be fine!”
“Sharing a one-bedroom with you and your roommate and her boyfriend sounds like a lot.”
“He’s not paying rent, so I feel like if she complains, I’ll just tell her Billy has to go.”
“No, I don’t want to cause you any issues. I don’t want to be the messy, needy girl whose relationship issues negatively impact her friendships.”
Hannah hugs me impulsively. “You could never. I stayed by your side even when you were dating Andreas.”
“You’re the only reason I didn’t sign onto that time-share.”
“And look how far you’ve fallen.”
“I’ll go stay at my mom’s.”
“They’re so far away.” Hanna wrinkles her nose.
“It will be fine. Don’t worry about me!”
“You said you were never going to move back home.”
“My other plan was to rent a storage unit to sleep in, but they’re ridiculously expensive, especially when all I want to put in there is a stand mixer and some pots and pans.”
18
MCCARTHY
“I’d like to amend my recent order.”
“No refunds.” Hudson Wynter sounds annoyed and tired.
“I’m not asking for a refund. I want to add a couple more targets to the list.”
