Page 95 of Time To Live Again

He shakes his head. “Fucking news to me.”

I clench my fists to stay calm and gather my thoughts. I turn to Andy. “What the hell is going on?”

“I tried to stop her, Ol.”

“Mind your manners, Olive,” Mom says.

Oh, no, she didn’t. Leo steps forward to say something, and I throw my arm out to keep him quiet. This is my fight.

“Don’t you dare tell me what to do,” I snarl, not recognizing my voice. “How the fuck do you know Marla?”

Marla clears her throat. “Keep your voice down. We’re attracting attention. Let’s go somewhere else. This isn’t the place for this discussion. Follow me to my house,” she urges.

Marla guides us through the lobby toward the hallway that leads to her personal part of the hotel. Sully and Tonya follow on her heels, Tonya whispering something I can’t decipher. Leo is stuck to my side, his jaw tight and ticking. His shock and anger is quite clear.

I’m not only confused, I’m fucking livid. Mom and Andy follow us in dead silence. I can’t even hear their footsteps. I want to pull Andy aside to find out what’s going on, but there’s no time. It must be significant since Andy came with her.

Mom meets Leo once, and she pulls this shit? Good job, Mom, for proving what an obsessive, overprotective parent you are. On top of that, she knows Marla. How fucked up is that? This would make a great “I didn’t see that coming” moment in a book.

It feels like forever until we finally arrive at Marla’s front door. She opens it, enters, and says, “Let’s talk in the living room.” Then she tosses her heels aside and hangs her coat. We all do the same, leaving shoes and coats at the door.

I lose track of the moms for a minute as the rest of us look at each other in confusion. When we all finally make it to the living room, the scene before us is fucking absurd.

Marla and Mom are hugging and sniveling.

Mom keeps saying she’s sorry.

For fucking what?!

“Okay. That’s enough!” Tonya shocks us all with her firm outburst. She may be petite, but she’s got spunk. “Someone better start talking or I’m breaking out the alcohol.”

“I’ll take a beer.” Andy raises his hand like he’s waving down a waitress. Why is he here again? I need something a lot stronger than wine.Focus, Olive!

Leo chimes in, getting us back on track. “How do you two know each other?”

“And why do you keep apologizing to Marla?” I glare at Mom; my voice is harsh and unrelenting.

Our mothers finally separate, swiping the dampness from under their eyes. This must be an alternate universe and we’ve been taken over by aliens. Maybe Tonya had the right idea. I should suggest a round of shots.

“Ma?” Leo snaps, grabbing Marla’s attention this time. “What the hell is going on?”

Marla smooths down her classy beige dress and shakes out her hair, stalling, I think.

“Okay.” She fiddles with her pearl necklace. “Yes, we know each other.”

Mom stands stock-still, avoiding eye contact with me. Marla reaches out and catches her hand.

“Obviously,” Sully says sarcastically. I’d forgotten he was in the room.

Marla clears her throat. “Guys, remember how I had a fight with my best friend years ago?” She looks at Leo, Tonya, and Sully, her eyes soft and pleading.

“What?” Leo reacts first, shaking his head. “No. No fucking way.” He points at my mom. “You’re thebest friendwho stole Mom’s fiancé?” Disgust drips from his voice.

“We weren’t actually engaged yet,” Marla says, “and her name is Evelyn.”

“You’re defending her now?” Leo shouts. “What happened to all that manifesting anger every time you talked about being betrayed by your best friend? How you understand what Sully’s going through? How can you be so calm with her standing in your living room after all these years?”

Mom shrinks into herself and grimaces. I turn to her, gaping with disbelief. “Best friend? Youstoleher fiancé?”

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