Chapter Ten
Ailee
By the time I get home, my phone is about to explode with notifications from my parents and Katt. They kept texting when Josh bought me doughnuts and coffee. Ignoring them didn’t seem to help. The longer I stay silent, the more determined they become.
Now a new text arrives every minute. I ignore them, since nothing good will come of it. I don’t want to upset myself anymore, especially when I’m still reeling from what happened.
I can’t figure out why Josh jumped in like that. He’s a lawyer—a great one—not a sucker. He has to know lying like that in public would create problems for him. He even gave Katt a verbal smackdown, then said he didn’t know her.
Surprisingly enough, I believe him. I even believe him over the photos on her Instagram account. The fact that I trust him so easily is a bit surprising. After all, I just got burned by Chad. You’d think it’d be a long while before I’d believe any man again. About anything.
Josh offered to buy me dinner, but I declined since I didn’t want to take up more of his time, especially when he’d already eaten and probably wanted to go back to his brothers.
They’re tight, unlike me and Katt. I envy the bond he has with them—it would be nice to have people unconditionally on my side.
The only time my family’s on Team Ailee is when it can benefit Team Katt.
Letting out a breath and expelling the messy emotions from the evening, I toe off my shoes and toss my bra into the laundry basket. I microwave the leftover lasagna and grab a flavored tea from the fridge. Although the doughnuts were fabulous, they aren’t a substitute for real food.
About the time I place the reheated lasagna on the table, the door opens and Max walks in.
She vibrates with the boundless energy born of late-afternoon cappuccino.
Her copper-red hair lies sleek—unlike mine—and her makeup is flawless, the mascara and eyeliner still looking fresh.
Even the emerald sheath dress she put on yesterday morning before going to the office is wrinkle-free and pristine.
Her green eyes are wide as she comes straight for me.
Before I can say, “Hey,” my best friend lets out a piercing scream of excitement and outrage and hugs me.
“You’re going to turn me deaf,” I say, wincing.
Finally, she calms down enough to pull back and articulate. “Holy shit, roomie! What the hell? The fucking asshole is married, and you’re actually engaged to your hot-as-hell boss?” The glint in her eyes ping-pongs between rage and admiration.
I blink. “What? How did you know? Did Katt harass you, too?”
Max snorts. “She wishes!” Unlike most people, Max isn’t impressed with Katt’s fortune or fame. Probably because she was our next-door neighbor and grew up with us since we were five. “It’s all over the internet.”
“Wait, wait, wait. What is? Start from the beginning.” I take a bite of lasagna.
“Everything that happened to you today since you got to the restaurant. By the way, Katt’s a bitch for having you go to Peking Town.
I think somebody filmed it when they saw her talking with the fan girl, you know, the one who turned out to be your dentist fiancé’s pregnant wife?
And then they couldn’t stop themselves and posted the whole thing live on Instagram, and it went viral.
It’s like Jerry Springer, but more modern and upscale, without the moron audience. ”
I wince and swallow the lasagna. Great. “Was I recognizable in the video?”
“Totally. And of course so was Katt.”
I exhale shakily. This just feels…surreal.
I’m not the kind of person who stars in a viral video.
Actually…was I even the star? Whoever put it up probably wanted to focus on Katt.
“Oh, I see,” I say, although my tone’s more like shit.
“And Mom was checking me out to see if I looked good when I arrived.”
“Girlfriend, you looked amazing. And your boss? That man’s ass is chef’s kiss.” Max makes a kissing noise and does the fingers.
Totally, but I’m not sharing my thoughts on that with her. It’d only encourage her. “Were you staring at his ass the entire time?”
“No. But the person who filmed it moved their phone around until they could get his ass, too. Priorities. Anyway, that jerk! I knew something was off about him! He was just too slick for a dentist!”
“You didn’t think he was too bad last night,” I point out.
She crosses her arms. “No. I texted to ask if you were sure, then told you not to do anything hasty, like eloping, until we could talk today. I swear, my boss is the least helpful person in the world!” She shakes her head.
I nod in sympathy, since she couldn’t even come home last night. The man works her hard. If the pay and perks weren’t so fabulous, she would’ve quit a long time ago.
She continues, “I’ve been trying to tell you this. When I went into that monkey-butt-face’s office for a cleaning two weeks ago—”
“You mean to check and see what he was like,” I correct her dryly.
“—he fondled my gums with his finger with this look on his face. You know, the look guys get when they’re watching porn and jerking off.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have your depth of experience. But how could you tell? Wasn’t he was wearing a mask?”
“Yeah, but his eyes—they were creepy. Looked like he was getting a hard-on from it. And trust me, I recognize hard-on eyes when I see ’em.”
“Ew. How come you didn’t tell me?”
“I tried, but you got distracted because he kept texting you that evening. You were annoyed, and it sounded like you were going to dump him, so I didn’t want to pile on when you were already acting really bummed about it.
If he was on the way out anyway, why add insult to injury?
” Max clears her throat awkwardly, then purses her lips.
“I totally freaked out when you texted that you got engaged!”
I sigh. “I should’ve paid more attention to you.”
“I’m just glad you’re done with him!” Her eyes flash with renewed annoyance. “Scumbag. I should’ve punched his face when he told me that a gum massage is complimentary to all new patients. Ugh! With that smarmy smirk!” She executes a pretty decent left hook, making me laugh.
My phone vibrates on the table again. Another text from Mom. I try not to sigh, but it’s impossible.
“What’s that? Better not be that asshole trying to get you back.”
“It’s just Mom, wanting to know when I’m coming back to apologize to Katt.”
“For what?”
“Stealing her fiancé.” I shovel more food into my mouth.
Max’s jaw slackens. “She was engaged to Chad, too?”
“No! Josh. Well, he hasn’t proposed, but Katt called dibs on him, I guess? I mean, they were seen together all the time, at least on Instagram. Except he told me Katt faked those photos.”
“Loooooord.” Max’s voice is full of an eye roll. “That girl’s about as genuine as Corinthian leather. And I don’t want to say this, because I know you care about your mom…but she sucks. I’ll probably never forgive her for calling you a home-wrecker.”
I sigh. “Yeah. That’s why I’ve been ignoring their texts. I don’t want to see them until they get a chance to calm down.”
“I get to be your maid of honor when you marry Josh, right?”
“You’ll be my maid of honor no matter what, but I’m not marrying him.”
“Why not?” She narrows her eyes. “Wait—some kind of disease?”
“What? No! He’s fine! It’s just… He didn’t really mean it, Max.
It was a pity engagement, something he said to save my dignity.
It’d be weird for me to act like it was real.
Plus, he’s almost never seen with the same woman twice, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s blacklisted all his exes.
Lucky for me, he likes me and I do a good job for him, so I’m safe for the moment.
But if I want to stay safe, I need to get the hint and do the right thing and end the ‘engagement’ before he gets restless.
I’ll die if he starts looking at me like I’m pathetic. ”
“Oh, come on. Give yourself some credit. What’s wrong with you?”
“Have you seen the women he dates?” I shake my head. “Trust me. It’s best I stay in my lane.”
“Change your damn lane. Carpool! Problem solved.”
“Ha! Easy for you to say. You’re gorgeous.”
“So are you.” Her phone pings, and she looks at the screen and lets out a frustrated breath. “Ugh. I gotta pack.”
“For what?”
She closes her eyes wearily. “My boss wants me to accompany him to London. Now. It’s a good thing I have a passport.”
“Don’t let him work you too hard.” Her boss can be more melodramatic than a husky that’s been left at home. The man lives to work.
She blows air out through slack lips. “I’ll try, but no guarantees.” She pulls out a suitcase from her closet and curses. “Hey, mind if I borrow your suitcase? One of the wheels broke on mine and I forgot to replace it.”
“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” I gesture for her to raid my closet.
“Thanks, girl.”
While she gets busy packing, I put the plate in the dishwasher and take the trash out. Tomorrow’s pickup day, and I don’t want to rush in the morning.
On the way out, I run into a new neighbor.
I haven’t learned much about her, except that her company sent her here from Vegas at the beginning of the month.
A large black duffel bag is slung over a shoulder, and she’s in a dark gray tank top, black sports bra and yoga pants.
A thin sheen of sweat still glistens on her flawless skin and clings to her dark hair.
She must’ve expended quite a bit of energy in the gym, but her steps are extra light, deep satisfaction etched in every line on her stunning face.
Her blue eyes light up when she sees me.
“Taking out the trash?”
“Yeah. How was the workout?”
“Fabulous. You can never get strong enough.” Her eyes drop to the ring on my finger. “Nice. But…an heirloom?”
“What?”
“I saw the video. So you’re engaged to that tall guy. He looks like a fighter.”
I flush. “Uh. Yeah. He’s my boss, actually. And the ring is…a bit complicated.”
“I suppose so.” She smiles, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Well, regardless, congratulations. One of these days, you should tell me all about it.”
“There isn’t much to tell.”
“Nonsense. When a woman gets engaged in a viral video, there’s plenty of gossip. I’ll even bring over some chocolate chip cookies to bribe you after my business trip. They’re to die for. Everyone says so, including my kids. Even my younger brother.”
“I’d love to try your cookies, but don’t blame me if you’re disappointed by the lack of juicy details.”
She laughs. “Never.”
“If you’re sure.” I grin. Good night, Zoe.”
*
Early the next morning, my apartment complex goes up in flames.