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There’s a lot I love about my job as a life and style reporter and getting dressed up for galas is at the top of that list.
“Sure. Email me the details, and I’ll be there.”
Gus lets out a relieved breath. “Okay, kid, thanks.” He hangs up without saying goodbye. That’s Gus for you. To the point, then on to the next.
Just after I fall asleep, there’s a knock on my door. I look at the time and realize I’ve actually been out for an hour. Wow, I was more exhausted than I thought. I take a look in the mirror and holy shit, I look a mess. My long red hair looks like a nest of angry squirrels made a home in it. That’s what I get for not drying it after my shower. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. I trudge to my door and peek through the peephole. All I see is my favorite bottle of red held up to the little hole.
Swinging the door open, I grab the bottle and caress it. “Ah, my precious,” I say lovingly to the cabernet. Snickers sound from Kasey and Lindsey as they come in for a group hug.
“I’m so happy to see your face,” Kasey says into my tangled hair on one side and on the other, I hear Lindsey tell me she loves me. It’s quite the feat for her to be in my apartment. She’s come a long way in terms of being able to leave her apartment, especially without Aiden. Her being here warms my heart more than I could possibly put into words.
We walk to the kitchen, where I promptly open my bottle of cab and take a healthy swig as Kasey turns around from the cabinet with three wineglasses in her hand.
“So, no need for glasses tonight. Oh man, this is gonna be good,” she says as she opens another bottle for her and Lindsey and pours them a glass.
“Y’all might want to sit down for this one,” I tell my girls.
We make ourselves comfortable in my living room. Kasey and I stretched out on the couch and Lindsey on the oversized chair with her legs dangling over the arm.
“Okay, sister. Spill,” Lindsey tells me.
I take another deep breath and a long pull from my bottle. “So, I haven’t been totally forthcoming about the extent of Jackson’s and my relationship,” I begin. Their eyes are wide as I tell them everything, starting with the night Aiden punched Jackson in the face all the way through to yesterday. When I finish, it feels as though a weight has been lifted from my chest. The shocked expression on Kasey’s face brings me back to the moment. Lindsey doesn’t look surprised, just sad about the spectacular dumpster fire that has become my life.
“You aren’t mad at me, are you?” I nervously ask them both. “I know I should have told you, especially since he’s your future brother-in-law, but I didn’t know how, and honestly, I was worried you guys would think I’m an idiot for getting involved with him knowing what he did when we first met and the fact that, you know, he’s Jackson, playboy extraordinaire. Plus, if we ever imploded like we did, I didn’t want you to feel like you had to choose. He’s going to be family sooner rather than later.”
“It’s a lot to digest. I’ll definitely say that. But honey, why on earth would you think that my relationship with Donovan, and subsequently his brother, has anything to do with you?” Kasey looks genuinely hurt by my reason for not telling her and Lindsey sooner. “You’re my sister, regardless of blood. I would never,everchoose Jackson over you. And ifanyonewere to have a problem with it, they can kiss my ass.”
Her statement brings tears to my eyes. Again, I’m struck by the fact that I should have known better. The Albright sisters have welcomed me into their fold as an honorary sister. Since my own sister never took my side, I suppose I never expected it from anyone else. It feels good to be proven wrong.
“Abs, we have your back no matter what,” Lindsey confirms. “I love Jackson, but I just can’t wrap my head around this. What the hell was he thinking?”
“I can’t tell you what he was thinking, but whatever it was, it wasn’t with his brain,” I flatly tell them.
Kasey lets out a snort of laughter and I take that as my cue to take a long drink of wine. It’s a little drinking game I’ve been playing with myself. Whenever Kasey snorts with laughter or anyone makes an inappropriate joke, or looks at me with sympathy, I’m drinking. So far, it’s working splendidly.
There’s a knock at the door and we give each other a questioning look, none of us having any idea who would be here.
“Abigail, open up. I know you’re in there,” I hear Jackson call through the door.
Kasey looks at me with concern in her eyes. I take another drink.
“Do you want me to get rid of him for you?” she asks. She has the fierce don’t-fuck-with-my-cubs look on her face, and I love her all the more for it.
“No, he’s my mess. I’ll clean it up,” I groan out.
Stumbling to the door, my drinking game really kicking my ass, I swing it open, looking around and past Jackson like I’m expecting someone else.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure if Everly caught a flight back with you and you two decided to rub it in my face that you prefer blondes with fake tits and loose morals.”
I shoot him a withering glare as he hangs his head.
“I deserved that,” he tells me. “But I swear to you, I never had sex with her. I don’t know what happened, Abigail, but I don’t remember anything after going to the bathroom.”
“Do you honestly expect me to believe that? This isn’t the first time I’ve caught you with your tongue down another girl’s throat.” I’m so fucking mad at his stupid face I could spit nails at him. My words will have to be sharp enough to cut, I suppose, since there are no nails to be had.
“I trusted you, and you threw it in my face like I meant nothing to you,” I seethe. “Even after knowing what my bastard ex did to me. I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that you cheated or the fact that it was at my own fucking sister’s wedding, you ginormous piece of shit.” The hiccup I let out after my very loud tirade would have embarrassed me at any other time, but not today. No, today I’m so beyond angry at seeing him, nothing is going to lessen the rage flowing through me.
“Abigail, I don’t know what happened, but I’m going to find out and I’m going to prove to you that I’m not the man you think I am.” The determined set of his jaw and the ferocity of his words means nothing to me.
