Page 97 of For the Sub

Instead of responding, admitting to her heartache, Brandy asked a question of her own. “Don’t you have a restaurant to open?”

“It’s Monday. We’re closed.”

Which meant this could be a long conversation.

“So. I didn’t hate him as much as I thought I would.”

Brandy blinked. “That’s high praise coming from you.”

“But now I think he’s an asswipe since he hasn’t called you.”

“I didn’t say that,” Brandy protested.

“You didn’t have to.” Margot’s voice was surprisingly soft.

Really, Brandy was fortunate to have a friend like her.

“Let me know if you want to have lunch or a drink. I’d suggest a hike, but my feet hurt like hell from the new heels I wore yesterday.”

“I’m good.”

“If you fucking mope like you did after Reyes, I’m kidnapping you and taking you shopping until you max out your credit card.”

“Because you’re hoping I’ll be depressed enough to buy you some new shoes.”

Margot laughed. “There is that.”

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do.” Brandy exited the house to pick up her coffee cup. Holding it, she paced. “But there’s no need. I need to be a grown-up, right? Master Niles and I never agreed to contact each other.”

“Who are you trying to convince?”

Brandy was silent for a moment.

Then, because she knew Margot would ferret out the information anyway, Brandy admitted, “He invited me to a party at the Moline.”

“Ha! I knew there was more to the story. You turned him down and broke his heart and you want me to take your side, so you make it sound like he dumped you on your ass.”

She laughed at her friend’s ridiculousness. “That’s not the way it is.”

“No guy would willingly put up with me unless he was really into you. Argue with that.”

How can I? “I’ve got nothing,” Brandy said with a smile.

“He’s not like Reyes,” Margot said. “Not that I’m taking Niles’s side or anything.”

“And not that you like him.”

“Never will. Go with him. He’s already fucked you and beat you, how much worse can it get?”

“The Moline,” she reminded her friend. “Charity fundraiser that his aunt is hosting. He knows Reyes and Shawndra.”

“The bitch from hell.”

She could always count on Margot’s loyalty.

“And?” Margot asked. “Niles isn’t a damn thing like them.”

“What if his aunt is?”

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