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But I don’t want her to hang up thinking I just called because I wanted to pick her brain. I called because I wanted to pick her brainbecauseshe was at the forefront of my mind already. Looking over at Mani, I see his head angled slightly as he listens to my side of the conversation. His mouth is set in a grim line.
“Are you doing anything tomorrow night?” It is Catherine who asks me.
“I’m not.”
“Meet me?”
I hold my breath for one second. “Yes.” It’s not even a choice.
“I’ll give you an address. Come over at seven?”
“Okay.”
She rattles off a Manhattan Beach address. “Got it?”
“Yes.” I don’t write anything down. I couldn’t forget it if I tried.
“See you then.”
“Bye.”
“Oh, and Aiden?”
“Yup?” My breath is tight in my chest with the weight of the choice I have just made.
“I’m going to ruin you.”
My laugh comes out a bark of surprise. “Hey, Cat?”
“Yup.”
“I can’t wait.”
I don’t say anything once I hang up the phone. I don’t explain myself. I don’t make any excuses. I take full responsibility for what I’ve done.
“What.Was that!”
I should be worried by how scared Mani sounds. But I’m not. At all. If anything, I have never been more certain about anything—this is the right choice for me. I ignore the panicked look in his eyes. “Do you remember what you said to me the day after you met Angie?”
“Ah…No. I do not. That was seven years ago.”
He’s lying. We’ve been friends for a long time, and the reason Mani doesn’t come to poker night is that he’s shit at bluffing. “You burst into the station with a mile-wide grin on your face. I was standing by the coffee machine. You didn’t even let me have my first sip of coffee and you asked me…”
Mani rolls his eyes dramatically. “Will you be my best man?”
“And what did I say?”
“That’s not the same,” he insists.
“Mani, what did I say?”
“You said, ‘Mani, I think you’re making a mistake’.”
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Did you? Make a mistake?”
