Page 50 of Six Wishes

“I just fired Chuck.” That kills his mood completely.

“You fuckin’ what?” his eyes pop at me almost the same way his wife did earlier.

“He called me, started bitching me out,” I try to explain. “He called Chloe a whore…”

“Okay, it’s okay.” I’m not sure if Wyatt is talking to me or to himself right now. “Did you give him a notice?”

“Yes, I told him six months to the day. I thought that’s how…”

“No, that’s perfect,” he interrupts me. “I need you to sign those papers today, like, right fucking now.” He takes his phone out and starts tapping on it. “Damian will have everything ready. We need the docs dated with today’s date. He’ll take care of it for you.”

He is almost pushing me out the door now, and, given our difference in height, it is quite comical. I’d laugh if I wasn’t directly involved.

“Okay, where am I going?”

“You’re going to my office,” Wyatt rattles instructions in my ear. “Damian will meet you there. He has to call his assistant in so she can get everything notarized.”

“Did I fuck things up for you again?” I really didn’t think things through when Chuck started spitting his shit at me.

“Only a little bit,” Wyatt’s grimace says it all. “But nothing we can’t fix. Just go and sign the fucking documents.”

We are out in the parking lot by this time, and I start jogging toward my car. I cuss a little when I have to get in. With it being so low to the ground, it is a bitch to get in and out when you are basically a massive human. My mother is right, I need to get rid of it before I look even more ridiculous while driving it.

Like I have conjured her with my thoughts, Mary Boyd’s number pops up on my screen as soon as the phone connects to the Bluetooth in the car.

I push the button to answer, wondering why she’s calling me. I hope nothing else bad happened.

“Van,” her voice is a mix between sympathetic and chastising. “What is going on with those pictures online?”

Fuck.

“How do you know about that, Mom?”

“One of my friends from the book club tagged me on it. I about shit, Van,” she whispers dramatically through the line.

Fucking book club. It’s not even got anything to do with books. That’s just their excuse to get together once a month and drink their weight in wine. I’ve always thought it was a bad idea that she joined, and an even worse idea when she became the president.

“This other friend of mine saw them, too. Her daughter is a photographer. She says they’re photoshopped,” she continues talking, and she manages to take me by surprise. Finally someone who believes in me. God bless the book club.

“They are, Mom,” I assure her a little too enthusiastically. “And I have no idea why. Who the hell would want to see pictures of me naked? Having sex?”

“Well,” my mom drags the word out like she is trying to decide how she should break the news to me. “There are plenty of people out there who love to see you naked, honey.”

“Mom,” I shout and throw my head back against the seat. “Do not ever talk about me naked. With anyone. Not even me. Promise me,” I beg.

“Okay, honey,” she agrees, but I can hear the smirk I’m sure she has on. “Is Chloe okay with all this?” she is back to being serious now.

“Not exactly,” I sigh. “She thought the pictures were real, and she took off.”

“Well, did you explain to her that they’re not?” Mom is talking to me like I am five.

“I tried, Mom, but she wouldn’t listen. And maybe it is better this way,” I shrug even though she can’t see me.

“Donovan Michael Boyd, where do you come off saying stupid things like that?”

“Mom,” I try to reason with her, “if she reacted this way the very first time something like this came up, what is she going to do if I do go back to playing? When the puck bunnies are all over me? All the time?”

“Would you cheat on her?” Mom’s quiet question throws me for a loop, and my heart beats faster in my chest.

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