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32
Bella
“Come on, Carm’s not coming.” Annie sits on the other side of my desk.
It’s Friday, and they should’ve already left for the Hamptons. Evie tried to stay back with me, but I know the British guys are having a huge party and she should be there instead of wallowing in my own personal pity party.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll just be a downer, and I really need to work.”
Annie leans back into the chair rather than leaving. She clearly has something she wants to get out, but she’s worried about how I’ll react. “Before I say anything, I want you to know I understand your reasoning. Lying is not a sign of a good man. And he is my boyfriend’s brother so I can’t really pick sides, but I get why you freaked out.”
“Just say it.”
She wavers for a moment. “He’s a good guy. He lies about stupid shit sometimes because he worries what people think of him. But with you… it’s the first time since I’ve been in their lives that I’ve seen the real him. He’s himself with you. Even Enzo says so.”
“I just need some space.”
“He’s a mess. Have you seen him? He hasn’t shaved. His eyes are sunken in. I stopped over last night, and the condo was a disaster. I listened before I knocked, and he was playing some song and when it stopped, he started it back up again. It was country. I’ve never heard him listen to country.”
I can’t say I’m much better than Carm. I have “Be Alright” by Dean Lewis on repeat hoping it’ll help things make sense, but Carm didn’t cheat on me. He lied. Then a song like “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line will come on and I think that maybe I’m overthinking this whole thing.
“I don’t know, Annie, I mean…”
“You like him, don’t you?” she asks.
“I do.”
A small smile creases her lips. “Do you think you could forgive him?”
I sigh. “Did he ask you to come here?”
She shakes her head. “I’m here on my own. Actually, Enzo’s in his office right now, making sure he doesn’t come up this weekend in case I’m successful in getting you to join us.”
“Oh.”
“He’d probably kill me if he knew I was here. He’s doing some kind of Bella cleanse.”
“Which is what exactly?”
She laughs. “Well, any redhead woman gets a death stare. He makes sure his cabs don’t drive by any of your billboards. Even the one outside the office. He’ll have the cabbie go around the block to park on the other side of the road, so his back is to it. He calls someone the minute he steps off the elevator to keep him from coming into your office. I think he even told Justin that if he didn’t quit sleeping with Max, he was fired. You know Justin. He said okay.” She shrugs.
That explains why Max has almost been Team Carm lately. She told me that maybe he isn’t so bad and what he did with Evie was thoughtful. The worst was when she told me that I should’ve been honest with him about why I started the FSBO brokerage.
Traitor.
“Sounds like he’s been busy the last few days.”
She rolls her eyes. “Carm isn’t good with patience. Three days to him is like three months to the rest of us.”
I don’t say it, but I feel like it’s been six months. Every night is lonelier than the one before.
“And you look… beautiful but tired. Enzo and I didn’t have a smooth journey, you know. We had some kinks to work out too. It’s natural, but if you quit communicating then…” She stops talking, as if she doesn’t want to overstep when she’s invested in both sides. “Well, I should get going. I just wanted to try to convince you to come to the Hamptons. It seems like a waste not coming.”
“Thanks, Annie. Have fun.” I give her a small smile.
“Will you come next weekend?” She stops at the door, waiting for my answer.
“Maybe we can be civil and talk about a schedule. I’m not sure you’d want both of us there at the same time.”
