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“Of course, Addison. Can I do anything?”
“You can,” I said, facing my mother with the confidence I had earlier when I thought I would get everything I wanted. “Please go to the conference in my stead, but don’t make any final decisions about selling. Let me show you this is what I want. Let me prove to you I can do better. Give me all the listings no one wants.”
My eyes traveled to my mother’s face, taking in the laugh lines around her mouth and the subtle grin I could see her trying to hide.
“Nothing has to be decided, but I meant what I said. You have to want this for yourself, not because it’s what we want or expect it from you.”
I nodded, feeling like this could be a sign from the Universe, saying to grow the hell up and find whatever was missing from my life. Annaleigh was always going on about signs, and perhaps this was one pointed directly at me. Or maybe it was days like today when the better choice was sitting in a broom closet panicking while watching reels of my worst life moments, drinking cheap gin and humming Don’t Stop Believing. Maybe I was too ashamed to face the fact that I was a fuck-up, and that was what people saw, no matter my facade. I needed to breathe or I’d drive myself into a panic attack.
“I will take one of Olivia’s orange scones,” Mom said, knowing I’d head to Sweeter Things as soon as I left, proving she knew me better than most.
I returned her smile, but it felt fake and tight across my face as I bent down to kiss her cheek before turning toward the door. When my feet reached the tile, she cleared her throat, and I stopped and looked at her, waiting. Another trademark of Amber Allison was her ability to deliver a quick one-two, jab-punch combo before you registered you’d been schooled, and by then, it’d be too late.
“And, Addison, I’d love to meet Simon. I’m not thrilled about what that article said about him, but I’m glad you’re at least trying. Invite him over to dinner next week, would you please?”
Fuck.
She ran a hand through her short red hair and turned toward her desk while my feet couldn’t carry me fast enough back to my office. I pulled my phone from my pocket, swiping to open it, and finding the girls had been as busy as me.
Jenna: What the fuck is going on Addison?
Annaleigh: Did you know about this earlier?
Jenna: What happened earlier?
Annaleigh: We went running.
Jenna: You better not have held out on us.
Olivia: Take it easy, Jenna. She didn’t know. She wouldn’t do that.
Jenna: Is the article true?
Annaleigh: No. Isn’t this the hackette with the vendetta?
Jenna: I’m out for blood. Sic Broody on him, Anna, with his lawyer skills, and I’ll call Mark’s brothers.
Olivia: I’m more interested to know about this guy. Do you have new man candy?
Annaleigh: He is yummy.
Me: Things have hit the fucking fan.
Jenna: Are you okay?
Me: I’m not sure.
Annaleigh: Shit.
Me: GIF of a mushroom cloud
Olivia: Get your ass over here. We’ll come up with a plan of attack.
Me: On the way.
Jenna: GIF of group hug
Annaleigh: GIF of exploding hearts
My mood hadn’t improved, but at least I knew that whatever happened, the girls had my back and would help me handle anything life decided to throw my way.
