Page 95 of Play Book

Marty pauses as we go outside. “I did,” he said quietly. “Once upon a time I would have moved heaven and earth to make her happy.”

“And now?”

“Now all I care about is my kids.”

“You’ve let her dick you around long enough. Talk to her. Whether it’s one-on-one or with the therapist but ask her flat out what she wants and give her a time limit.”

“The truth is, I’m a little scared of what the answer is going to be.”

I unlock the door of my car. “Well, better to know now than to let her string you along any longer.”

“You have a point.” He lifts his hand in a wave. “Good luck with Ally.”

“See you tomorrow!” I wave and head for Ally’s school.

I’m about to threaten to pull her out, along with all the money I’d been planning to donate. As the saying goes, money talks and bullshit walks. Except my money will be the thing walking away if the school doesn’t find a way to make me—and Ally—want to stay.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Saylor

I always look forward to lunch with the girls, but I’ve finally found my creative muse and have been making good progress with my art. Taking the time to get dressed up and go out when I’d rather be painting is a little frustrating, but I’ve always made my friendships a priority and don’t intend to stop now.

I’m the last to arrive at the restaurant, and Harper waves me over.

“Hi!” She gives me a hug.

“Hey, guys!” I sink into the chair they saved for me.

“I have an announcement,” Stevie says with a grin once we’ve ordered drinks.

“Oooh. Tell us.” Harper cocks her head.

“I’m going to New York in two weeks. I’m going to do a special Alexa Humboldt show.”

“Me too!” Chey says, grinning.

“Do it with us,” Stevie says to me. “Please? I’ll feel so much better with my friends around me. And we can all stay at my house because even though I’m going to do the show regardless, I really need to pull up my big girl pants and get my place ready to go on the market.”

“Does Alexa even want me in the show?” I ask with a laugh.

“I already asked her, and she said to tell you absolutely. If you have time, you’re in!”

I haven’t done runway work in a while, probably two years, and while I don’t mind doing it, it’s never been my favorite.

I’ll do it for Stevie, though.

She needs to get back on the proverbial modeling horse, so I’ll suck it up. Besides, the timing works out for one of my soap opera appearances.

“All right,” I say. “I can close the gallery for a few days, I guess. It’s not like there’s anything to sell.”

“Yay!” Stevie claps her hands.

“I’ll go too,” Harper says. “For moral support.”

“I think I’m going to walk in the show,” Bailey says softly.

It takes a few seconds for her words to sink in, and then all of us let out various shrieks of excitement.

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