The Fix (The Carolina Connections, #1)(56)

She proceeded to calm me down a bit and try to put things in perspective a little better. My exhausted mind wasn’t working very well, but some of what she said started to make a little sense.

“You and Nate did not break up. What you did was have a fight—all couples have fights—and once you patch things up you get to have hot make-up sex. I’ve known you for years and when you get going there is no stopping you—you’re sort of like a Housewife in that sense—I hate to be the one to break it to you.”

“Hey—that’s mean. You’re supposed to be making me feel better.”

“Oh shut up—you know it’s true. Now, listen. I love you and I only want the best for you and Rocco. You’ve not had the easiest time of it, but I need to lay it out for you, Laney, so please don’t be mad at me.”

“Oh God—what? Is this the part where you tell me I’m not always 100% right?”

“Yes it is, girl, and you can handle it so here goes.” She took a deep breath and dug in. “I think the reason you get so worked up over Gavin and his admittedly sketchy life choices is that you may be projecting a little bit. You’re not happy with some of the choices you’ve made, and after you beat yourself up a bit, you tend to turn it around on him. Maybe you’re reluctant to treat him with more patience and compassion because you can’t stop being mad at yourself for your mistakes and decisions that didn’t work out too well.”

I could picture her perfectly on the other end of the phone. She undoubtedly had her bottom lip between her teeth and her eyes were squeezed shut. I couldn’t speak as I tried to process what she said and not throw the phone down.

Silence. My wheels turned for another minute.

“Fiona?”

“Yeah?” Her voice was barely audible.

“Did you just fucking Dr. Phil me, you little whore?!”

“Maybe.” Her voice went up an octave.

“Aw hell. I’m gonna have to grow some lady balls and dish out some apologies, aren’t I?”

“That would be my recommendation, yes.” Her normal tone returned. “But I don’t think you’re wrong about Gavin needing to man up. I think you just need to adjust your sensitivity level a touch. And maybe we should both stop calling him an idiot so much. I think maybe ‘bonehead’ sounds more supportive. No—I’ve got it—we can call him a ‘boob.’ It gets the message across but will give him happy thoughts!”

“Have I told you lately how much I love you? Or how weird you are?” I was actually smiling at this point—a minor miracle given the last couple days.

“No, but it’s a given. So, if you’re feeling a little better, I have some phone calls to make and a couple errands to run.”

“What are you planning, Fiona?” My back prickled with apprehension.

“Never you mind. Like I said, let your fairy godmother take care of it.” And then she hung up on me.





Chapter Nineteen





Hangovers and Soft Underbellies





NATE

“You should always listen to me, man. Getting serious with a chick? Not worth it.” Mark took a deep swallow of his beer before setting it back on the table. When he’d seen what a pathetic mess I was this afternoon, he convinced me that a night out drinking and playing pool at Jake’s was just what I needed. I was pretty sure I was wasted because Mark was beginning to make a lot of sense.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. I bet I could get a girl here to go home with me and she wouldn’t get all emotional and bat-shit crazy.” I looked around the bar half-heartedly for a suitable woman. Ah, shit. What did it matter? None of them was the one I wanted.

“Dude, I hope for your sake you didn’t tell Laney she was bat-shit crazy.”

“No way. I’m not that stupid.” I took another swig of my beer. “I may have called her emotional though.”

Mark threw his head back with a maniacal laugh. “That’s even worse. I can’t believe how ignorant you are. That’s like rule number one on the list of things never to say to a woman you want to nail.”

“You’re such a romantic, Mark. I can’t believe you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Believe it, man. That’s the last thing I need. Keep it light, keep it fun, and keep it comin’—that’s my motto.” He toasted me and I toasted him right back, though my heart wasn’t really in it.

“Well, would you look at this.” A familiar voice joined in. I turned my head and, after it stopped spinning, I saw Gavin and his friend Brett by our table, beers in hand. “I didn’t think I’d see you here tonight. I figured you’d be hanging with Laney and the little man. I’m still a bit scared to go home so I’ve been hanging at Brett’s.”

I gave Gavin the fakest smile I could muster. “I want to kill you.”

“What did I do?”

“I think Laney broke up with me. I may have defended you and in the process broken some unspoken rule about siding with siblings in an argument. It’s all quite … fuzzy.”

“Shit. Are you serious?” He cocked his head.

“It’s either that or she’s insane,” I offered.