Page 32 of Fool Me

“But—”

She made a pushing motion with her hands. “Please, just go.”

He sent her pleading eyes. “Can’t we?—”

She put a hand to his shoulder and gave him a gentle but steady shove to turn him around. “Right now. You have to go.”

Defeated, he slunk a few steps toward the stairs. What else could he do? She’d ordered him to leave.

A second later, she called out to him. He turned back, hope re-igniting.

“You can’t use those stairs.” She pointed in the opposite direction. “There’s another set on the back of the building. Use the balcony to walk around.”

Wishing he could step straight off the balcony and into those low, brooding clouds, he nodded and moved toward her, headed for the back stairs. Sadie hadn’t believed a word he’d said. She thought he was a player.

As he passed her, he heard a crinkling from his pants pocket. She’d probably just throw it away, but he certainly didn’t want a lingering reminder of his loss. “Here,” he said, taking out the little paper bag and handing it to her.

“What?” She took it distractedly, her attention still fixed on the space behind him. “Hurry and go!”

He saw her shove the little bag into the pocket of her bathrobe as he rounded the corner of her building. If he lingered there, he might get a glimpse of her boyfriend, the one she’d never mentioned but who was obviously on his way to her apartment this moment. But no. His heart couldn’t take the agony. He didn’t need to be haunted by visions of Sadie with another man for the rest of his life.

21

Sadie watched Monique and Ginny’s rapid progress along the sidewalk toward her building with dread. As they headed up her stairs, she waved down at them as enthusiastically as she could, all the while searching their faces for signs—had they spotted her surprise visitor? “I’m so sorry!” she called out.

A few steps ahead, Monique looked all business in a sleek, dark navy pantsuit and shiny black heels. Occasionally, she had real estate showings or negotiations on Sundays after their brunch. This seemed likely, because she even had her bright red shoulder bag with her, something she called her “power purse.” She wasn’t smiling, but Ginny looked up at Sadie and gave her a little wink.

“You’ve never missed Sunday brunch at the diner before,” Monique said, her tone brusque, when she reached the top of the stairs.

Sadie pressed a hand to her cheek. “I know. I fell asleep watching a movie last night and forgot to set my alarm.”

Ginny joined Monique on the stoop. No one eyeing them from afar would have thought the two women were related, let alone sisters. Ripped jean shorts and an oversized, pink sweatshirt, its loose neck drooped over one shoulder, made Ginny look like she’d just walked off the set ofFlash Dance. She cocked a hip as she tilted her head in theatrical suspicion. “And did your dog eat your phone?”

“I don’t have a d…” Sadie started to say, before realizing Ginny and Monique must have been trying to call her. “Oh, shoot! I turned it off and shoved it in a drawer. I'm so sorry you had to come all the way here.”

Monique swished past her and into her apartment. “Well, you’re alive. And so long as I’m here, I might as well see the place I pay for.”

Sadie stiffened as she swallowed a reply. Monique paid half Sadie’s rent. Sadie had found a cheaper place that wouldn't have required her sister’s help, but both Ginny and Monique had insisted the location wasn’t safe. In the end, Sadie had accepted the aid, but she didn’t much care for Monique’s habit of bringing it up.

Ginny slipped an arm around Sadie’s waist, gave her a squeeze, and whispered, “How are you doing?”

How could she answer that question? Yesterday was so confusing, and just when she thought she’d settled the matter for herself, Grant’s visit had turned her thoughts to scrambled eggs. What did he mean he was friends with her roommates? That wasn’t possible, was it? He’d been a complete jerk to them.

Regardless, she could hardly explain all that to her sisters. It would make them even more suspicious. “I’m fine. Just feel dumb about missing Rick’s this morning. I hope he’s not worried about me too.”

“I think he was too busy to notice,” Ginny said. “Word’s gotten out that you eat there, and people are showing up hoping to see the curly-headed half of the #mudpuppies. The place was packed this morning…and highly disappointed. I was worried a few heads were going to crack right off their necks each time the bell over the door dinged.”

“I’ll stop by later and make it up to him,” Sadie said. Monique sat in the living room, foot tapping. It was the same spot Julia had used, and the similarities between Julia and her oldest sister were suddenly jarringly obvious. The straightness of their spines made carbon steel seem limp.

Sadie tipped her head toward Ginny. “Want to come in too?”

“I’d better,” Ginny said, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Monique might have a chastity belt for you in that big red purse of hers.”

Sadie grimaced but also laughed. Ginny was good at defusing tension, but part of Sadie’s laughter stemmed from relief that her sisters must not have seen Grant. If they had, Monique would have immediately started grilling her, and Ginny would have teased her mercilessly. Shooing Grant away so abruptly had been rude, but when Monique’s car had pulled into the lot, what else could she do?

Sadie closed the door behind Ginny and followed her into the room. “I don’t have much in the kitchen, but I can do coffee and toast? I have a nice honey from?—"

“So, he spent the night?” Monique said, interrupting her. She eased back in her chair and stared up at Sadie, her tongue practically poking a hole in the side of her own cheek. “Yes. Wedidsee him slinking around the corner.”

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