Play her. Grant’s girlfriends.
In the beginning, when she’d first started going to their happy hours, they’d made suggestive comments about Grant’s exes, but Rainy had never taken the bait, had never pried for information about who came before her. He was hers now. It didn’t seem fair to ask questions about his past when she wouldn’t answer any about her own. She heard her name being called and slipped her phone into her pocket, bracing herself. It was Ursa.
“Do you want to go next, or…？”
“I don’t want to go at all,” she said flatly. Ursa nodded once and went back to the group.
Maybe they’d only invited her to see where she stood with Grant. Was it possible that the entire year she spent going to their little gatherings they’d been fooling her, making her think they were her friends when—
“Hey, Ursa said you seemed upset.” Braithe stepped around the corner and Rainy froze.
“I…just don’t feel great.”
Braithe’s eyes crinkled in concern. “Yeah, we don’t always drink that hard. Well, you can go next if you like, and then head out early.”
Rainy’s mouth was dry, and she felt the buildup of pressure in her chest. She knew what was coming and she didn’t want to have a panic attack in front of them.
“I need the bathroom.” She looked around desperately and spotted the sign. She tossed Braithe her best I’m sorry look and darted for the back of the store. From somewhere behind her, she heard Braithe tell the others that Rainy was sick.
Once locked in the bathroom she called Grant, her panic increasing from drizzle to downpour. This had been a mistake of epic proportions, coming here—especially here—with these women. She called his cell; it rang twice before going to voice mail. What could he be doing at this time of night? Get a grip, Rainy. He’s in a different time zone. She slid her phone into her back pocket and covered her face with her hands.
If she’d told Grant about her past, then he wouldn’t have pressured her to go on this stupid trip; she should have just been honest with him. She hated herself; she hated her inability to know what was best. Leaning against the wall, she listened to her own breathing as she calmed herself down. She knew they’d come to check on her if she didn’t come out. She washed her hands, avoiding her own gaze in the mirror, formulating the words she needed to get the fuck out of there. The knock came before she’d dried her hands.
“You okay?”
It was Mac. Rainy opened the door, and before Mac could react, she grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bathroom.
“I need you to get me out of here. I don’t want to do this.”
At first she thought Mac was going to ask why, but then her face transitioned from worried to confused to determined right in front of Rainy.
“Okay,” she said. “But they’re waiting for you, and you know how Tara is…”
Rainy nodded.
“Splash some water on your face. Make your makeup run more.”
Rainy wasn’t expecting the burst of laughter that came from her own mouth, but Mac being sneaky was a treat.
They left the bathroom together, arm in arm. Rainy dipped her head and tried to look even more miserable than she was.
“It’s your turn!” Ursa spotted them first, her voice filling up the store with its bold, smooth tenor. Mac squeezed her arm, leading her forward.
“She doesn’t feel well,” she told them. “I’m taking her back to the hotel.”
“Oh, no, Mac, you were looking forward to this!” Ursa said. “I’ll go back with Rainy.”
Rainy flinched. She didn’t want to ruin either of their experiences because she was having a ridiculous emotional breakdown. Squaring her shoulders, she loosened herself from Mac’s grip.
“Go. You should. I’m feeling better. I’ll just sit right here and wait.”
Mac’s look said that she didn’t believe her.
“I promise. Go.”
She had to shove Mac toward the table a few times before she went, glancing back at Rainy like she wasn’t sure. To make her feel better, Rainy sat in one of the armchairs facing the table and smiled at her. She ignored the looks Braithe and Tara were exchanging and focused solely on the table where Luc was laying out Mac’s cards.
The reading didn’t take more than ten minutes. When Mac stood up, she was beaming. They all turned to Rainy, and she shook her head.
“Come on!” Ursa urged, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the table. Rainy stopped short, yanking Ursa to a halt.