Page 111 of Maid For Each Other

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, I forgot who I’m talking to; you probably don’t have to bargain shop for your supplements like the rest of us.”

“Shut up about the damned supplements—what the hell are you talking about ‘fake girlfriend’?”

He looked at me, shut his mouth, then crossed his arms over his chest, like he was reconsidering telling me.

“Fuckinggo, Roman,” I said. “Comeon.”

“Okay, but you can’t get pissed because I didn’t have time tothink it out. Like, it was a spur-of-the-moment idea, and I really thought she was in it for the money, no strings attached.”

Shit, shit, shit.“I’m going to hate this, aren’t I?”

“I think maybe yes.” He sighed, dragged a hand through his hair, then proceeded to tell me a story that made me want to hit my very best friend.

“Are you serious right now?” I yelled, staring at the world’s biggest idiot. “You straight up insulted her with that offer.”

“You’re probably right,” he said, shaking his head. “I swear I was just dreading that wedding.”

“Shit.” She probably thought I told him about everything as if it was all transactional, and then he came to her, trying to get in on it. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I wanted to get my mom off my ass.”

“You’re such a pain inmyass,” I said.

“Yeah, maybe,” he agreed, looking apologetic. “Do you want me to talk to her for you? Clear it up?”

“No. I need to talk to her,” I said. I was still pissed when I thought about her notebook, because it was impossible to forget she’d written the wordscarelessandsoullessunderneath my name in her loopy handwriting.

How was I ever going to not feel attacked by that?

But itwasfiction, and Ihadbeen reading without permission, so maybe it was time to at least clear the air about that.

“Even if she’s moved on and wants nothing to do with me,” I said, “I don’t want her to think we thought we could just pass her around.”

Was that what she’d meant when she said she was surprised I hadn’t shared her notebook with mylittle friends?

“Yeah, God, I’d hate that, too,” he agreed. “I’m so sorry—this is totally my fault.”

I sighed. “Thisisyour fault, but it’s mine, too. Mostly yours, though.”

I picked up my phone and tried texting her, but I got no response, as expected. I tried FaceTiming her, but of course she didn’t answer.

Maybe she blocked me.

“You are hilarious,” Roman said. When I looked up from my phone, he was grinning. “The look on your face is so intense that I kind of feel bad for Abi.”

“Don’t feel bad for her, just help me find her,” I said, gesturing to Carol that I was ready for the check.

“Didn’t you just order another?” she barked from two tables over.

“Changed my mind and need the check.”

“Maybe go to Benny’s,” Roman suggested.

“It’s already poured—I’m gonna have to charge you, hun,” Carol said.

“Fine,” I said, distracted, then said to Roman, “She only works three days a week, and I don’t want to be the creepy guy who shows up at her job.”

“Why not? It works in the movies.”

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