Page 86 of Miss Treated

But suddenly I had a flash of guilt over leaving Kelsey here stranded.

She might have betrayed me, but I wasn’t a complete dick. Once I got in my car, I took out my phone to text Leo and Gabe. One of them could give her a ride to the hotel.

After my mom made her excuses and came out to the car, I drove her to my condo. Once we arrived, she took a seat on my sofa. Much to the surprise of us both, Lady jumped up beside her. “Huh, maybe she senses the sadness in people or something,” my mother remarked.

“Can I get you anything?” I was at a loss, never having seen my mother so forlorn.

“No, thank you, honey. It fits, you know.”

“What fits?”

“Frank and his gambling. He got into trouble a couple decades ago. Ava was little, and we loaned them the money to pay it off. He got help, or so he said. They ended up paying us back. And recently I knew they were having issues. Fighting a lot. Sophia seemed upset with him, and now I understand why.”

“I had no idea.” I’d always thought Frank had it together.

“I can’t believe your father chose the party to drop the bombshell. I’m livid. But at least now I understand why he’s been stressed the last few months.”

The fact he’d suspected Aunt Sophia for so long and kept it from all of us was frustrating.

My mom touched my arm. “You should go see Kelsey. I’m fine here.”

I didn’t want to think about Kelsey. “She lied to me.” I was disappointed and hurt. And confused since I still loved her.

My mom shook her head. “Think of the impossible position she was in. She didn’t know you when she took this job and started investigating. Nor could she predict you two would become an item. She didn’t know she’d have to implicate your aunt. I hate that Gerard put her in such a terrible position today, and you should too. She seemed completely shell-shocked.”

Shit. My mom was right. Kelsey had stood there completely off guard, taking direct hits without standing up for herself. She’d said confrontations were her kryptonite and, given her past, was it any wonder? I suddenly had a vision of just how stressful it must’ve been for her to keep the secret from me. To have to balance her professional integrity with her personal relationship. My anger started to fizzle, dissipating almost as quickly as it had flared up.

Hopefully, she’d returned to the hotel by now. “Are you sure you’re okay if I go?” I was torn between the two women I loved most in this world.

My mother smiled. “I’d be angry if you didn’t.”

“I’ll text Gabe and Leo and even Ava. Maybe we can all meet back here. Regroup. Open a few bottles of wine. How does that sound?”

She squeezed my hand. “Sounds good.”

I grabbed my keys and got in my Bronco, intent on getting to Kelsey’s hotel as soon as possible.

Chapter Forty-Six

Kelsey

I wiped at my tears as I strode down the driveway. After pulling up the Uber app, I started to type in my information. Someone was calling my name.

“Kelsey.”

Turning, I saw Gabe approaching. Shit. Not who I needed to see right now.

“Kelsey, wait.”

I could only walk so fast in heels, and in no time he caught up to me. Taking my arm gently, he said, “Wait. Where are you going? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m, um, just getting an Uber to my hotel.”

He pulled out his phone, his lips flattening at whatever he read there. “I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, no, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. I have no clue what happened, but I’m sure as hell not gonna let you get into an Uber with a stranger. Come on. I owe you. The least I can do is offer you a ride.”