Sonya figured she’d had just enough wine.
“I’m booting Brandon out, or I already did after I found him naked in bed with my cousin Tracie.”
Inside his scruffy goatee, Bill’s mouth dropped open. On the other hand, his wife Donna’s mouth thinned.
“Is that the blonde with the big boobs?”
“Why, yes, it is. You might have seen her run out of the house a few hours ago barefoot and holding her underwear.”
“No, and I’m sorry I missed it. I’m sorry it happened. But I’m going to tell you I’ve seen her come around twice before when you weren’t home. I thought they were working on some surprise for you, for the wedding maybe. But … I won’t lie. I wondered.”
“Twice before today?”
“That I saw. Last Saturday when I was washing windows, and it must’ve been about three weeks ago. I’d taken some cookies to Marlene’s across the street. Her little boy’s fond of my snickerdoodles. I was just leaving to come home. So, yeah, that’s Saturday again, three weeks back.”
“We went to the salon,” Cleo said, “for you to try out styles for the wedding, and shoe shopping for wedding shoes.”
“I remember,” Sonya murmured.
“I’m sorry it happened,” Donna said again. “But I’m glad you found out sooner than later. Bill, go on and get the rest of that douchebag’s stuff out of Sonya’s house.
“Anything else we can help you with,” she added, “you just ask.”
“At least three times,” Sonya said when they’d loaded the last of it. “Now I have to get rid of the bed. Maybe the couch. They might’ve used the couch. Or God knows where else.”
“No, you don’t. I’m going to white sage the whole place.”
She looked at Cleo. “Seriously?”
“Deadly. I might have some in my purse. Otherwise, I’ll run home and get some. We are clearing him out, and her. And anyone else he might’ve banged in there. Sorry, Son, but maybe.”
“Yeah.” Though it made her a little sick, she nodded. “Maybe.”
Now she needed to get tested, she realized, and that added to the humiliation. She’d need to get tested, just in case.
“Now I wish we’d sliced up those leather jackets. And I’m going to have another conversation with Summer. But first, I’m dumping all of his things at Jerry’s, whether he’s there or not.”
Winter grabbed Sonya in another hug, a fierce one. “We’re going to consider this a narrow and welcome escape.”
“If he’s there,” Cleo said, “can you kick him in the balls?”
“I might just. I’ll be here tomorrow. We’ll start making those calls.”
“Thanks.”
When Winter drove away, Cleo put an arm around Sonya’s shoulders.
“More wine?”
“Oh yeah. Can we bury Tracie’s slut shoes with Brandon’s boxers? Give her chronic yeast infections?”
“Now you’re talking.”
* * *
On Monday morning, Sonya dressed carefully. The red suit helped her feel powerful, in control. She spent time working her hair into a sleek twist, and that made her feel cool and detached.
She’d felt the opposite on Sunday when Brandon texted her—four times, before she’d listened to Cleo and her mother and blocked his number.
We have to talk. We can’t throw everything away because I made a terrible mistake. You know I love you. We have to talk. You have to let me explain.
Every text had coiled up her anger. And the anger made her feel weak and stupid.
Today, she had to face him. She needed to feel powerful and cool and detached.
When she’d chosen jewelry—bold—and perfected her makeup, she went out to where Cleo sat, half dozing over coffee.
“Well?”
Sonya turned a circle.
“And that’s a wow. Killer look, Son. A ‘here’s what you’ll never tap again, asshole’ look.”
“That’s what I aimed for.”
“Direct hit. Listen, I’m going to take the spare key and your wedding binder. I’ll start canceling what we couldn’t reach on a Sunday.”
“Cleo, you’ve already given me Saturday and all day yesterday.”
“And I go nowhere until the locksmith comes today to change those locks, then I’m taking the binder and the key home with me. I’m in a good place on my project to take a few hours. So I’ll finish the rest of the calls. I’m guessing since there were alterations, you can’t just return the wedding dress.”