Maid for Each Other(78)

“Didn’t even take it with her,” I said, my gut churning as I pictured it sitting there with the jewelry. “She left it on the side of the bed, and if that’s not a message, I don’t know what is.”

“Are you fucking serious?” he said, his voice almost a yell as he looked at me with wild eyes.

“No, I’m making up the whole story. Of course I’m serious.”

“Oh, my God, you’re so stupid, Dex,” he said, digging his hands into his hair as he continued staring at me like I was insane.

“Thanks. This definitely helps my mood.”

“No, you fucking moron,” he said. “Why would she leave the money—think about it. You two had an agreement and she fulfilled it. If she had zero feelings for you, she would’ve taken the money because it was just like a job. The only reason somebody would change their mind and not take the money, especially that much money, is if they did have feelings for you.”

I frowned. “Wait. What?”

“Think about the girl you met. You needed a favor and she demanded money. You guys shook on it and boom—that girl would take the money. Now think of the girl you spent time with in New York. That is the girl who didn’t take the money. And the only reason she wouldn’t take money, in my opinion, is if it felt gross taking money from someone she had feelings for.”

My head started pounding and I rubbed my forehead, feeling off-kilter.

Because I didn’t think he was right, yet I also felt like there was something there. Something to the question of why she wouldn’t take the money.

It seemed like, now that Roman had said it out loud, if Abi just wanted to wash her hands of me, she actually would’ve taken the money and dipped, right?

But the story.

“I couldn’t have gotten it this wrong,” I said, looking at him. “Could I?”

“I think you could. And remember the day I ran into her at Benny’s and she had zero interest in being my fake girlfriend for Kennedy’s wedding?”

“No,” I said, trying to recall. “What are you talking about?”

“I told you I went to Benny’s, didn’t I?” he said. He obviously thought he’d already told me about whatever the hell this was.

“What were you doing at Benny’s?”

“I always go there for supplements. Their prices are way better than everywhere else. I think they get them whole—”

“Are you serious right now?” I interrupted, desperate for him to get to the actual story.

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, I forgot who I’m talking to; you probably don’t have to bargain shop for your supplements like the rest of us.”

“Shut up about the damned supplements—what the hell are you talking about ‘fake girlfriend’？”

He looked at me, shut his mouth, then crossed his arms over his chest, like he was reconsidering telling me.

“Fucking go, Roman,” I said. “Come on.”

“Okay, but you can’t get pissed because I didn’t have time to think it out. Like, it was a spur-of-the-moment idea, and I really thought she was in it for the money, no strings attached.”

Shit, shit, shit. “I’m going to hate this, aren’t I?”

“I think maybe yes.” He sighed, dragged a hand through his hair, then proceeded to tell me a story that made me want to hit my very best friend.

“Are you serious right now?” I yelled, staring at the world’s biggest idiot. “You straight up insulted her with that offer.”

“You’re probably right,” he said, shaking his head. “I swear I was just dreading that wedding.”

“Shit.” She probably thought I told him about everything as if it was all transactional, and then he came to her, trying to get in on it. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I wanted to get my mom off my ass.”

“You’re such a pain in my ass,” I said.

“Yeah, maybe,” he agreed, looking apologetic. “Do you want me to talk to her for you? Clear it up?”

“No. I need to talk to her,” I said. I was still pissed when I thought about her notebook, because it was impossible to forget she’d written the words careless and soulless underneath my name in her loopy handwriting.

How was I ever going to not feel attacked by that?

But it was fiction, and I had been reading without permission, so maybe it was time to at least clear the air about that.

“Even if she’s moved on and wants nothing to do with me,” I said, “I don’t want her to think we thought we could just pass her around.”

Was that what she’d meant when she said she was surprised I hadn’t shared her notebook with my little friends?

“Yeah, God, I’d hate that, too,” he agreed. “I’m so sorry—this is totally my fault.”

I sighed. “This is your fault, but it’s mine, too. Mostly yours, though.”

I picked up my phone and tried texting her, but I got no response, as expected. I tried FaceTiming her, but of course she didn’t answer.

Maybe she blocked me.

“You are hilarious,” Roman said. When I looked up from my phone, he was grinning. “The look on your face is so intense that I kind of feel bad for Abi.”