Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(41)

“Obviously I am going with you, Jessica. Be reasonable,” William said, taking a chug of his beer.

“You and your reasonable,” I muttered.

Then I tried to do as he said. Elbowing depression out of the way, I said, “This isn’t one of those times when I am saying I want to do one thing, but really setting a trap. I actually, seriously am totally okay with you staying and hanging out with your friends. Genuinely.”

“That was a lotta Californian.” Adam laughed, leaning harder against the bar.

He’d just kicked the broom stick. “You want to stay, William,” I said tersely, “And you should. These are your friends. Stay. Drink. Flirt. Whatever. I don’t care. I just want to go.”

“I’d like to think I’m yer friend, too, Jess,” Adam said. Now he was poking the bear. When I looked at him with crazy eyes, he smiled.

“Let’s go,” William said before I could retaliate, empty bottle on the bar. “We’ll meet up with everyone next week.”

I sighed. Loudly.

Next week at the same, or a similar, bar, with the same, or similar, people. All men and Candace. And I loved Candace. I really did. But she was all for Ty. She barely left his side all night, and when she did, it was to use the restroom. She was super great, but not enough. And I didn’t know where to find girls that could replace what I lost. If that were possible.

Next Friday rolled around. Same work week, which I liked. Same time with William, which I liked. Same prospect of happy hour with Williams friends…which I was putting off for as long as possible.

Gladis’s party was approaching rapidly. It would take place on Sunday. This Sunday! Eck! I had taken the two days following off work at William’s begging. He said he had a surprise for me. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I decided, in a need for something different, to have some new threads just in case.

I was out shopping, trying to make a decision on a blue dress versus a red dress, with no one to tell me if I looked good or crappy, when I got a text from Gladis telling me to get home immediately.

She didn’t know how to text herself, but often had Lady do it to communicate quickly. Scratch that—to communicate with me quickly. She didn’t understand why I didn’t answer the phone. I tried to explain that answering the phone in public was dicey because so often it was rude, but she still didn’t get it. It was a phone. Answer it.

Her tune changed when she had Lady text and got a response within ten minutes.

I congratulated her on learning how to be young again. She threw a pillow at me.

As I walked into my cottage, I had a moment of confusion. It was sparkling. I was tidy, but this was insane. Gladis had finally stopped asking if the cleaning lady could come through and just made it happen.

I couldn’t say it wasn’t welcomed—the place looked freaking great! If I didn’t hate sweeping and moping so much, I would make more of an effort.

As I crossed the extensive yard a few minutes later, with Fred sprinting off to the right, William called.

“Hey babe,” I said instead of hello.

“Jess?”

“Yeah?” Who did he expect to answer my phone?

“Oh great, glad I caught you. Some of the guys are headed to Froggy’s tonight. They got a big booth. Do you want to go?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to do a boys’ thing?”

“Nah, not tonight. Unless you guys don’t feel like going...”

“Who? Adam and I?”

William had two women in his life. Me and Adam. We both gave out, but my version was called sex, and Adam’s was called whining.

Adam hated that joke.

William paused. “...Candace. Didn’t you say you were going out with Candace tonight?”

“Oh, no. I originally was, but she cancelled.”

“Too bad. Well, I’ll talk to you in a while. I’ll meet you there.”

“Where? Froggy’s?” I stopped walking. We never met places. We always went together. Plus, he was sounding distant and distracted.

“Yeah. I gotta take care of some stuff. Can you just meet me there? Grab a cab. I’ll pay. Just get there after nine.”

“What’s going on?” It wasn’t my birthday, so a surprise party didn’t seem applicable.

“What? Nothing, why? I am doing some work. Can I just meet you there? I think I might dress up.”

WTF? Dude was jumping all over the place with this conversation.

“Alright...Um, great. Talk to you later.” I clipped my words a little to show him I was irritated. Usually that got him to slow down and talk sense.

“See ya.”

Click.

I stared at my phone. Until stupid Fred barreled into me.

“Fred!” I shouted before letting him through the Big House’s back door. Shaking my head, I followed, still wondering about William’s odd behavior.

If I was a jealous woman I might think he was cheating.

Good thing I wasn’t jealous...

As I walked through the house, I heard commotion in the lounge. I’d forgotten to hurry.

As I turned the corner and into the lounge, I stumbled.

“OH MY GOD!” I yelled.

Everyone looked up at once. All faces beamed at me, then shot past me to Fred, who huddled in close, half wagging his stump, half looking scary.