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Ten
“I guess just call me back.” I hung up and frowned at Ashley. “I haven’t heard from Adriana in weeks. She’s been back and forth so much I keep missing her. I hope she’s taking care of herself.”
“Is her mom doing any better?”
“No idea. Marco told me she started treatment, and now they’re waiting to see if it works.”
Ashley took a sip of her coffee and leaned back in her office chair. “I’m sure she’ll reach out when she gets a minute. Sounds like she’s going through it.”
“I know. I just wish I could be there for her. Have you talked to Jazz recently?”
Ashley smiled and picked up her phone. “I did. Here, check out the pictures she sent me from the proposal.”
That bittersweet feeling hit me square in the chest as I scrolled through the beautiful pictures of my friends smiling and kissing on the beach. Jazz and Imani were perfect for each other, and I couldn’t be happier for them.
“It was sweet of you to book the trip,” Ashley said, pulling my attention from the pictures.
I handed her back her phone. “It was the least I could do. Just wait until their bachelorettes.”
“Maybe by then—”
“I’m not holding my breath.” Choices have consequences, and my ass was catching a lot of them.
I bit the inside of my cheek and opened the email Joey sent over from the city. “The building permits are a go, but they’re holding the liquor licenses over our heads, and Beth’s mom has pulled some strings with the gaming commission. So, I guess we continue on and hope Marco can grease some wheels.”
Ashley laughed and shook her head. “Spoken like a true mob wife.”
“I would do a Godfather impression, but my impressions are terrible.”
“Your self-awareness is a gift.”
“Thank you.” I sighed and glanced at the clock. “Woof. It’s seven? I think it’s time to pack it in.”
We started straightening up, and Ashley’s phone dinged with a text. She excitedly grabbed it. As she read, her face fell.
“You staying with me again tonight?”
Ashley absentmindedly dropped the phone in her bag and looked up at me. “No. I need to be able to sleep at my house without Malcolm.”
“If you say so.” When Ashley didn’t laugh, I added, “I’m sorry.”
She waved me off, and I followed her to the door. “No need to apologize. I’m just being a big baby. He’s only been gone four days, and he said he should be back tomorrow.”
Excitement coursed through me. “Really?”
“I bet he’s emailed you an update.”
Scott was still banging around his workshop as we went out the front door. Ashley walked to her car, and I yelled, “Call me if you change your mind!”
“Will do.”
“Sasha.”
I yelped, spinning around, my bag flying, ready to attack, but it was only Frankie. “A bell. You need a fucking bell.” Slapping his arm, I pushed him toward the car.
“Or maybe you should pay more attention to your surroundings. It’s like you have no survival instinct.”
“Shut up,” I grumbled, getting into the passenger’s seat of Frankie’s luxury ride.
