Page 105 of The End of Summer

“Hi,” I reply.

“Where are you?”

“My parents’ house.”

“How’s your dad? How areyou?”

I exhale. “It’s been a long night. I’ve been better.”

“What can I do?”

“I’m not really sure.” Then, I remember that he bailed me out. “Thank you for posting bail, though. I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t even think twice about it. I just need you to be okay.”

“I’m okay, Brady. But I found something out. You won’t believe this.”

“What is it?”

“Miranda was the one behind the bust.”

“What? How?”

“Remember I told you about my ex-boyfriend, Keith?”

“The cop?”

“Uh huh. Well, apparently he’s engaged to Miranda.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yeah – and she was the one who told him that Cosmo was a shady establishment. So he launched an investigation. But I don’t think she cared so much about that –”

“Definitely not. That was a revenge move.”

“That’s what I was thinking, too.”

“I can’t believe her!” he says, agitation rising in his voice.

“It’s okay, Brady. Not worth getting upset over.”

“She got youarrested, Gretch. She put your wholecareerin jeopardy!”

“Yeah. I know. But I don’t think it was me she was after.”

“She was trying to get back at me for – forwhat,exactly? For not accepting her ridiculous advances?”

“For not dancing with her the way she wanted you to, I guess. For not making her feel like the only woman in the room.” Despite myself, my lips curl into the tiniest smile. “You really do have a way about you, babe. I imagine you’d be very difficult to get over.”

“I doubt that.” He shrugs.

“You said that she tried to apologize to you, right?”

“It was the most twisted attempt at an apology I ever saw, Gretch.”

“Well, I don’t know, then. Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you – that Miranda was the reason this whole thing happened. Thought you’d like to know.”

“Babe, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.” He sighs. “Jesus Christ.”

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