“What?”
“I messed this up.”
She props up her phone and drops into the seat at her vanity, the illuminated mirror making her look far more put together than I currently feel.
“Messed up what? What happened?”
“Collette knows about me and Othello. She knows I lied to her.”
Her mouth drops open. “Ohhhh. Wow, I’m sorry, Marley. How did she find that out?”
“The manager from the front desk came apologizing about the room mess-up, and Collette put two and two together.”
“Damn,” then realization hits, and her eyes become the size of saucers. “Oh no! What does this mean? Does this mean no more exclusive?”
I shake my head, so irritated with myself that I can’t even answer. Lo swears under her breath.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m like, do I go and make things right, or what?”
Lo’s mouth is still open, shock written all over her face as she slowly shakes her head.
“Lo!” I snap. “Tell me what I should do. I’m like, so mad at myself right now.”
“Well, I mean, when you told her, what did she say?”
The words are carved in my memory. The disappointment in her voice, the look in her eye.
So, you let me believe something that wasn’t true?
When I repeat the words to Lo, she winces. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah…”
“I mean, honestly, it sounds like someone who’s hurt, not angry.”
“Umm, is one better than the other?” I ask incredulously. “I don’t want to hurt people, Lo. Especially not Collette Randolph!”
“I get it. But did she say anything else after that?”
“No, and she didn’t need to. Lo, you didn’t see the look in her eyes. The way she looked at me. Like I was a disgrace. Such a letdown. Like that is my idol, looking at me like I’m a fraud. It was torture!”
Lo starts wiping her face with a cleansing cloth.
“Okay, Mar, I get it. But let’s stop spiraling for five seconds and look on the bright side.”
“There’s a bright side?”
Lo pauses and stares off into space for a beat. “No. But let’s pretend there is.”
I groan. “This is so not the time.”
“All I’m saying is that Collette never actually said the story was off the table. She’s upset, and rightfully so, but those aren’t the same thing.”
“It’s off the table.”
