“Why? What’s going on?”
“Just talk to London. And ask her to be honest with you about whether she really wants to do that.”
“Why wouldn’t she want to? What don’t I know?”
I sighed heavily. “You know London better than anyone, and you know how much she feels like she owes you and Ramsay for getting her out of New York and away from Nick.”
Expression slackening and her pretty eyes darkening with understanding, Tierney almost spoke in a whisper, “Are you saying London doesn’t want to work at the B and B but has stayed on because she thinks sheowesme?”
“She would never tell you that … but she deserves to be happy. And I think she thinks what she owes you is even bigger than what she knows you wouldwantfor her.”
Tierney appeared shell-shocked as she turned to look out at the harbor. “How … how did I not see it?”
“Tierney—”
“No, I’ve been totally wrapped up in my own—” She gestured to her bump. “I missed it.”
“By all accounts, you have been the kind of friend a person only dreams of having in their life.” I pressed a reassuring hand to her shoulder, and she turned to me, slightly dazed and so upset, guilt and something like dread needled me. “Just … just talk to London.”
“I will.” Her expression transformed into determination. “You bet your ass I’m going to talk to her!”
Before I could stop her, London’s best friend marched down the street, heading up toward the B and B.
I had an inkling that this could go very badly for me.
I’d soon find out thatthatwas a gross understatement.
LONDON
While I was trying to prep everything for Emmy to do the continental breakfast over the weekend with no issues, I also decided to deep clean the kitchen. Nee couldn’t be around some of the stronger chemicals, so I’d ushered her out to go get us some lunch while I worked on the ovens.
They were all sparkly and new by the time Nee marched back into the B and B.
And I mean shemarched.
“What the actual hell?” Nee barked as she entered the kitchen, practically throwing a white bag with presumably our lunch in it onto my clean island.
Confused by her hostility, I peeled off my rubber gloves. “Can you be more specific?”
“You don’t want to work here but you’ve stayed because you think you owe me?”
My chest suddenly tightened as my mind raced. There was only one person who knew that. But there was no way he would …
No.
No way.
“I bumped into Murray who had the decency to tell me the truth.” Nee crossed her arms defensively over her chest, her mouth trembling like she was seconds from bursting into tears. “I kind of wish my best friend would have been the one to tell me. Now I feel like I’ve been holding you captive!”
“What?” I gasped because it was suddenly hard to breathe. “No. Nee. No. That is not at all what’s happening here.”
Her betrayed expression killed me. “Do you want to work here or not? And be honest. I don’t want your martyr bullshit, London. I want the truth.”
Since I wasn’t ready to tell her the truth, all I could do was stand there, gaping at her like a fish out of water.
Understanding crushed Tierney’s expression. “Oh my god. Oh my god!” She turned on her heel and stormed out.
“Nee! Tierney!” I hurried after her too late. By the time I threw open the entrance door, Nee was already in her SUV and swinging out of the parking lot, gravel kicking up under the wheels of her vehicle.
