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My best friend who I’d been avoiding the last few weeks. And the person who’d gotten me this job.
Oh, this wasn’t going to be good.
But I still answered. “Hey, Lyla.”
“I honestly didn’t think you were going to answer.”
“I was just getting ready to turn my phone off. Things are a little crazy here.”
“’A little crazy.’ You think?! Do you know who called me this morning? Everyone. I’ve heard from almost everyone I know.”
I snorted and thoughtjoin the clubbut didn’t say as much. I knew I was on thin ice with my bestie.
“Including my boss.”
My stomach dropped. In all this, I never thought about the negative impact my decisions could have on Lyla. I’d thought about my friendship with Lyla and me, Zoe, Kingston, and my family. But the fact that this could potentially impact Lyla’s job had never even occurred to me. “Lyla, I didn’t—”
“She wanted to know if I knew about your relationship.” Lyla cut me off, tears obvious in her shaky voice. “I’d vouched for you. Hell, I practically promised that you wouldn’t try to sleep with Kingston Grier. I’d told her if there was one woman on earth who wouldn’t try to sleep with him it was my bestie. I was doing you a solid. What the hell, Bri?”
“I-I-I, I don’t know what to say,” I replied bleakly. “It wasn’t like that. I didn’t set out to seduce—”
“I vouched for you! I got you a job in a field I knew you’d excel in. Plus that’d pay you a ridiculous amount of money so you could afford the IVF you desperately want. And seriously, this is how you repay me?”
“It wasn’t like that. I swear. And no one was supposed to know. We were only together in his house. We were so careful, but someone sold us out.”
Lyla scoffed derisively.
“Seriously? Do you seriously think I want pictures of myself—naked and having sex—out there for everyone to see? I get that I screwed you over, but can you at least appreciate the position I’m in? Everyone has seen.Everyone, Ly.” My voice choked up as tears clogged my throat.
Lyla’s voice gentled. “I understand you’re having an epically bad day, Bri, but can you understand the position I’m in? You signed a contract with a morality clause.”
“I know,” I whispered.
Lyla sighed. “I guess now I know why you were avoiding me. I thought you were just busy and not getting a lot of time off.”
“Well that was true too.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I mean, we’ve been besties since forever.”
“I wanted to tell you. I ached to tell you. But I knew you would be disappointed. I never thought about how it would put you in the middle.”
“Of course I was in the middle. It took a lot of convincing with Olivia to get her to believe that I had no idea. I almost lost my job! I might still lose my job!”
“I never thought about that. I’m sorry, Lyla. I never thought that my actions would have consequences for you too. I guess I just wasn’t thinking.”
Lyla sighed. “You know that this means you can’t work for us anymore, right? The company is firing youandKingston Grier. And I’m pretty sure they’re going to go after both of you for breach of contract and loss of compensation. You’re going to need a lawyer, Briar.”
My stomach churned. This was the last thing I’d expected. I mean sure, I get them firing me. But Kingston, too? And then to go after us for money? How was I going to afford that and a lawyer? I felt a distinct pounding behind my eyes.
This was the shitshow that kept on giving.
But all that could wait until after breakfast. First, I had to mend things with my best friend. I felt like trash for what I’d done to my relationship with Lyla. “Did I screw things up for you at work? Do you still have your job?”
“I still have my job.” Lyla sighed. “For now. But I’m definitely on thin ice with Olivia. She won’t be taking any character recommendations from me any time soon.”
“I am sorry, Lyla. I’m sorry for what this did to you at work, and I’m sorry for what I did to our friendship. I just… It wasn’t supposed to mean anything at first. It was supposed to be just two damaged people having a little fun in a safe place. But it turned into so much more, and then it all blew up in our faces. And now I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Honestly, I need some time, Bri. This hurt. I’m not saying I’m done with you, but I need a few to get over it. You betrayed me, privately and at work. I get the why, but that doesn’t erase the hurt. I’ll talk to you later.”
