I don’t wait for him to finish.That’s the second time he’s mentioned our boss.
“What exactly would Toby get wind of?And better yet, how would Toby even know about whatever it is you’re insinuating?”
“I’ve got a front row seat.”He shrugs.
“Let me paint this by numbers for you.”
He frowns.“Paint by numbers?”
“Yeah, you know, since you seem to be having a hard time grasping I’m not joking.First, I’ll call Sarah.”
The color drains from his face so fast it’s almost impressive.I don’t really need to go on, but since he’s being a dick about this, I continue.
“I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t take much for her to leave you, and didn’t you say she was… What did you call it?”
I tap my finger on my lips, pretending to search my memory.“Ah, yes, high strung.I don’t even want to know what she might do if she were to find out we stayed under the same roof while you were here.”
His mouth opens, then closes.
I circle him like a shark, not enjoying this but wanting him to get my point.“Oh wait, she doesn’t know I’m here, that it was me you dropped everything back in LA to come help.WhatwouldSarah do if she found out?Burn all your clothes?Change the locks and kick you out?Key your car?”
These are all things he’d said to me when lamenting how much he wanted us to get back together, but he just didn't know how he’d leave Sarah without her losing it.
Please.She’s high-strung whenhe’sthe asshole?
“Secondly, I’ll tell Toby about the Adelaide?—”
“That’s not fair.”He shakes his head, knowing the truth about the Adelaide story is far worse than anything he could do to me.He falsified evidence he claimed was fact, despite having none, just to get his name on a co-written byline.“Grace?—”
“Neither is blackmail.”
“Let’s talk about this.You don’t have to do something you’ll regret.”
“I already have.You.”I lift my bag onto my shoulder, any guilt for telling him to leave already gone.“Your flight leaves in four hours.I’ve emailed you your ticket.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“What about the feature?And the memorial?You’re going to need me.I had it all planned.Videos.Town voices.The community?—”
“I’ve got it covered.”I move toward the door.“Thank you for everything you’ve done.You did help, but it’s time for you to go.”
For a moment, he just stands there, stripped of the confidence he wears like armor.Then I head for the front door.
The air is sharp, the sky bright with the winter sun, and I get into my car, start the engine, and pull away.
Several hours later, when I get home from meeting with Zoe, Blane is gone, and Meri’s in the kitchen.
“Hi, there.”I peer at the dish she’s sliding into the oven.“Do you need any help?”
“No, no.It’s all good.”She folds the kitchen towel and hangs it on the rail near the sink.“Katie’s coming for dinner.Maddox has something he wants to talk to us both about.”
She pauses, her gaze drifting toward the hallway.His truck is in the driveway, so she’s checking if he’s nearby.
“You don’t happen to know what that’s about, would you?”She leans on the counter, studying me, and as I open my mouth to respond, she hurries on.“I’m sorry, dear.That wasn’t kind of me—putting you on the spot like that.I’m just worried.He was very serious when he said it, and that boy...”She shakes her head with a rueful smile.“Man.He’s a man, but to me, he’ll always be my little boy.He carries so much, so much of it not his to bear, and that’s what this feels like.”
My fingers curl into fists at my sides to stop them from shaking.I have no idea what Maddox wants to say to his mother and sister, but the not knowing leaves an acrid taste in my mouth.