“Jesus H. Christ, Duncan! I cannot believe you brought this to mydoorstep!”
“Don’t worry! I’m going to fix it. I told you.” He takes a deep breath. “They won’t come after you. It’s me they want.” He looks a little queasy at the thought. As if he might prefer them wanting me instead of himafterall.
“I just don’t understand why you would ever do something this stupid! I mean, for fuck’s sake, there had to be a better option than getting involved with men like this…” I run my hands through my hair, stomach churning with anxiety. This is a problem I don’t know how to fix. “You had to know these guys weretrouble.”
“They didn’t seem so bad, at first. It all seemed very above-board. A few months back I signed a straightforward contract, got my loan, and even made my first few installment payments without anyproblems.”
“Andthen..?”
He grimaces. “About two weeks ago, they started getting pushy. Changing the terms we agreed on. They hiked my interest rate to fifty percent.” His hands curl into fists. “It’sextortion.”
“No,” I say calmly. “Actually, it’s just what happens when you MAKE DEALS WITH LOANSHARKS!”
He flinches as my yell piercestheair.
“Of all the moronic things you’ve ever done, Duncan, this has to be the worst. Worse than your idea to sell women those mirrors that make you look thinner than youactuallyare—”
“ThinFlection,” he murmurs. “And I still believe, given the rightmarketing—”
“Oh, give it a rest! I don’t give a shit what they were called or what market they’d soar in!” I hiss, throwing up my hands. “How could you do this?How? Please explain it to me, because I’m struggling to comprehend the magnitude of youridiocy.”
“I just…” His voice is raw with anguish. “I couldn’tfailagain. Can’t you understand that? I couldn’t watchanothercompany go under. Notagain,Lila.”
I blow out a breath. “I understand that. I do. But, to be frank, I’m not sure what I can do to help youfixthis.”
His eyes hold mine. “You can give me themoney.”
“Duncan, don’t you understand? Ican’tgive you the money.” A sob catches in my throat. “I don’t have any money left togiveyou.”
His face goes blank. “But… yourtrustfund…”
“What do you think happened, after you cleaned out Mom and Dad’s accounts? Who do you think they called to bail them out?” I shake my head sadly. “I can’t help you, because I alreadyhelpedthem.”
“It’s all gone?” he asks in a dazedvoice.
“Look at this place.” I sweep a hand around. “You think I want to be moving? You think, if I had any other options, I’d be abandoning the place I’ve called home for the past threeyears?”
“I…” He looks like he’s about to collapse under the strain of his own poor lifechoices. “I…”
A pang of unwanted sympathy shootsthroughme.
I know I should have zero pity for him, but I can’t help it. His last hope has just been snatched away. It’s clear, as he sways on his feet and stares at my kitchen wall with unfocused eyes, that his demons are finally catching up to him. And clearer still, that he’s fully aware it won’t end well for him, when they do, considering said demons are armed with sledgehammersandrage.
“I need a drink,” I mutter, not giving a single hoot that it’s barely eight in themorning.
“I thought you didn’t have any food in the house?” Duncan asksnumbly.
“I don’t have anything with actual nutritional value.” I cross to the cabinet above the fridge and pull down a bottle of amber liquid with a black label. “But Ialwayshavewhiskey.”
* * *
Three hours later,I’ve traded my sea of moving boxes for an ocean of white taffeta, and sibling confrontation for best friend bonding. I take small sips of my mimosa and watch Phoebe pivot in slow circles in front of a full-length mirror. We’re camped out in the back of the boutique wedding shop on Newbury Street where she’s having her final fitting. As I watch her spin on an elevated platform, her stunning Vera Wang gown practically glowing under the lights, my eyes begin to sting despite my bestefforts.
“You’re reallybeautiful,Phee.”
Her large hazel eyes meet mine in the mirror. “Youthink?”
“Not a matter of opinion. It’s a plain fact.” I shake my head. “Nate is going to have a heart attack when he sees you hurling down that aisletowardhim.”