“What? What does that mean? What women?”
“The women that have been sniffing around him his entire adult life, that he just clicks his fingers at and they drop their panties. Like that waitress at brunch - she was practically salivating! You know he’s on a one-man mission to work his way through the city! And what’s going to happen when he goes off with the next one? I thought you of all people would be sensible enough not to fall for it. Do you have any idea the position you’re putting me in?”
“Lauren… it’s not like that.”
“Of course it’s like that! That’s all he knows. He’s incapable of having a relationship. Is this because of your mom, you’re trying to make a point to her? God, you’ve known him long enough that he’s practically your own brother!”
“What? What are you even talking about?”
“This is gross.” She stopped, then her eyes opened wider than I’d ever seen them. “Is that what you were doing on Saturday when you were gone so long? He disappeared too! I was wondering where you both were.”
I looked down at my wine.
“Ohmygod! That’s actually what you were doing? Fucking him in the stadium? Jesus! Have you lost all self-respect?”
“Okay, enough, Lauren. Enough!” I hissed back with enough force that she shut up, and before we actually started drawingattention. “I get you’re angry at me. I understand that, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. But this has been like a whirlwind, and there hasn’t been anything to tell until now. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
Her jaw clenched and she looked away, though by the way her eyes kept narrowing I could tell she was only plotting my downfall. My stomach had plummeted to the bottom of the Hudson, and my throat was thickening the longer the silence drew out until I actively had to concentrate on holding back my tears. I didn’t think she’d like it, but I didn’t expect her to be against it so vehemently.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I was saved from another verbal attack by Kit and Beulah arriving.
“Hi, ladies! Are you a sight for sore eyes. Bell’s teething and she’s screamed all day. The boys have all gone to watch the game tonight, so thank God for our nanny,” said Kit, hugging me. “Wine is definitely in order.”
“Oh no, is she okay?”
“Yes, just fed up,” Kit replied, moving to hug Lauren who returned it with only five percent of her usual enthusiasm. “Hey, Laurie, you okay?”
“Fine,” Lauren snapped, making it very clear that she was anything but fine.
Kit and Beulah’s eyes widened, first at me, then at each other.
“Sorry we’re late.”
“You aren’t,” I smiled weakly at Kit, trying to stop the tears creeping up my throat again. “We just came early.”
“Oh, I’ll get some more wine ordered.” She thrust her hand in the air for the waiter doing the rounds. “Also, Payton can’t make it, she’s stuck at work, but how was everyone’s day?”
Beulah rolled her eyes. “I’ve spent the whole day cramming baseball facts. Penn’s making me go to the stadium tomorrow. Iknow I’m going to get a pop-quiz. I probably should have gone to the game with them tonight.”
I laughed quietly, but then Lauren stood abruptly.
“Actually, you know what? No. I’m not okay. I’m going home, I can’t be here right now.” It was pointless trying to convince her otherwise, seeing as she was refusing to look at me. “Sorry, both of you. I’m sure Lowe will explain.” She stormed off, flinging her coat round her shoulders without saying another word.
My tears were already silently flowing by the time Kit and Beulah stopped staring, confused at Lauren’s exit, and turned back to me.
“Lowe…” Kit wrapped me in a hug, allowing me to sob on her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“I’m so sorry, it’s my fault,” I sniffed.
“Is this because of Penn?”
I looked over at Beulah, taking the tissue she was holding out for me. “How do you know?”
“Rafe told me.”
“And Murray told me.”
