Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(76)

“Well,” Claire said, still in a huff. “You didn’t see, but sure, Willie took care of dat matter for ye. He basically told her to shove it up her hole!”

“Yeah,” Jane said. “After you left, that bitch tried to push the advantage of having him alone. The whole place could see that you left with the upper hand. She was talking all kinds of shit about you! All kinds! She looked like a shallow bitch. Sorry Ami.

“Anyway, he started talking about how you changed his life. How you were different than anyone he ever met—I think he was emphasizing her--”

“Yeah, he was,” Claire interrupted, nodding.

“—and that you were the one putting on the breaks with him. Then his mother of all people stepped in, all ladylike and nonchalant, and picked up the conversation, acting pleasantly surprised to be discussing her favorite person—quite the actor!—and started talking about your dancing and classic taste in fashion and wine. Then some old broad, not Gladis, but some other one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old, stepped into the conversation and she talked about how generous you were and always willing to help--”

“She didn’t even try to be nice about it!” Claire interrupted again.

“—and then, Gladis stepped forward...”

The girls paused and looked around for dramatic effect.

“Well?” I said, feeling slightly better.

“Gladis laid into her! She was saying how you have changed her life. How you moved in and made everything brighter. How you killed your car half way to the hospital to visit her then ran the rest of the way, just to make sure she was okay.

“She started talking about how she had money her whole life, but hadn’t ever met someone as heartfelt, hardworking and genuine until you crossed her path. How glad she was that you were in her life, on and on. She was more eloquent than I have ever heard the old bird. Then she ended with how lucky Willie was to have found her—you—and how smart he was to grab you.

“Everyone thought that was it, but then she started in about how rude it was that the bitch—sorry Ami—was being so rude in her house to her ward and all that. Gladis didn’t throw her out, but made her feel about two feet tall.”

Jane took an excited breath and kept going, “Then that bitch’s mother—oh, get over it Ami—who was there the whole time, but a few steps back, came to her defense. Gladis squared off with that woman and threw her weight around. Apparently Gladis is like an old crow of that community. Meaning she’s got a ton of freaking money and has been in that city a long time. More money and power than this other broad, apparently. Something about whoever Gladis’s hubby was and her father, or something. I don’t know, it’s all Greek to me, but it seems like all this other broad cared about was wealth. It reminded me of the mother in the Titanic.

“Anyways, I couldn’t hear a bunch of the conversation, but Gladis sent her running with some comment. Did you hear it Claire?”

“Nah. Once she got that ole bitches attention she lowered her voice.”

“Yeah. I didn’t catch it. But something she said made this woman reel back and look at her daughter, which looked awestruck, too. Willie looked unsettled, but he was showing very little expression, so I couldn’t tell. Anyway, the two packed in their shit and hurried out of there. Willie looked relieved and winked at Gladis, who smiled. Lady then snuck up to us and told us how to find you to tell you to make your entrance again, without tears. So here we are. But you didn’t cry.”

“I will. Just not here,” I said.

Adam reached out and rubbed my back again. He was definitely hoping I would cry away from his vicinity.

Claire was looking at Adam as if he had just appeared out of thin air. Then, with a devious smile, she said, “Adam, fancy a f**k?”

Everyone turned to Claire in amazement—Ami looked like she was about to pass out.

“Was that bold?” She started laughing hysterically and we all joined in. Adam included.

Poor guy.

“But seriously, Jess,” Claire said, still looking at Adam’s chest. You could see his effort not to cover up like a chick with no bra. “Dat girl wished she didn’t open up and talk a load of crap about ya.”

“Yeah, she probably won’t go after Willie for quite a while after that. So that’s good.” Jane nodded.

At least I had that: a rope a little longer with which to hang myself.

We snuck back into the bar. I was still worried about my position and William’s. We would always be from two different worlds. There would always be Dezeray’s to point it out. There wouldn’t, however, always be Gladis’s to protect me. William would eventually get tired of having to stick up for me all on his own.

As we emerged from the hole in the wall, I saw William at the bar talking to Lady, who saw us and gestured. William looked over worriedly and locked eyes on me. He didn’t move, but watched me intently until I was in ten feet from him. Then he quickly looked around. Seeing no one he rushed to me and embraced me in a rough hug.

“Why won’t people just leave us be?” he asked in my ear.

I didn’t reply, but let him hug me tightly. He pulled back and looked me in the face. If that cap wasn’t so tight on my inner bottle, I would have started sobbing. As it was I couldn’t feel much. I was still on defensive mode.