Page 129 of One Last Time
“Feed me.” She lies on the floor. “I’mdying.”
She’s worse than Aubrey. “Get up or you’re going to wish you weredead.”
Danielle comes out from the bedroom, looks at Nicole, and drops the box close to herhead.
“Bitch!” Nicole snaps. “I almost had a heart attack. One inch over, and you’d be paying for my plasticsurgery.”
“You got up, mission accomplished,” Dannismirks.
“I miss Heather,” I say, feeling a little wistful. “She should’ve come home forthis.”
She was home last month to sign the deed over to me. I officially own this house...withNoah.
We didn’t want to move the kids again since they’re settled in, and Heather was beyond happy when we approached her. I think she enjoys knowing another family is going to raise their kids in the house that means everything toher.
Or she’s just tired of the things that need to be fixed and likes that it’s now myproblem.
Noah was adamant that if we were staying, we were going to make it ours. So, on one of his long weekends home from France, he did what he does best and hired a freaking crew to dismantle mylife.
My phone rings, and my assistant’s number flashes. “Hi, Erica,” I say with the phone to myshoulder.
“Kristin! It’s like a disaster here. I don’t know what to do. You were supposed to come in today, and you didn’t. I’ve got four phones ringing and the spread is all wrong. It’s just wrong, I need you to fix it. Fixit.”
Oh, Erica . . . why did I ever think this was a goodidea?
“Take a deep breath. It’s going to be fine. I looked over the spread yesterday and made an adjustment. The magazine is going to be perfect,” I say in a calmtone.
She’s always freaking out. This is our second circulation, and we managed just fine with the first one. You’d think it was her virginal prom night with the way she goes nuts. Now, I get why she had a meditation room, the chick is always needing to do some deepbreathing.
“Okay. Sure. Yes. I’ll be okay. You’ll be okay. I’m going to get my boxed water, have myself a nice bike ride, and pray to the oceantonight.”
I pretend as if she didn’t say any ofthat.
“Sounds fun, honey. I’m sure the ocean will love that you’re asking for its help. I’m working now, goodluck.”
I stand, scratching my head and wondering what I was drinking when I brought her with me to the magazine. I was drunk. I had tobe.
And what the hell is boxed water? Boxed? Water comes in a bottle, but this is Erica, and I’ve learned to ask fewerquestions.
“Everything all right?” Danniasks.
There’s only one word to describe it. “Erica.”
My friends love her in theory. She’s been beside me, defending me, and being my biggest champion from the moment we first talked. But even if Noah didn’t destroy me personally and professionally—I was done. Catherine explained that she had to discredit the article, which in turn made Celebaholic and me lookshoddy.
As much as I’d like to pretend I’m sad about that, I’m not. I hated that job. Now, I own a lifestyle magazine geared to women over thirty. We focus on home, relationships, children, workforce things, andstyle.
I. Love. My.Company.
As long as I don’t say thename.
“Ahhh.” She nods. “IMcGettit.”
Nicole bursts out laughing, and they high five.Assholes.
“You can McGet out of myhouse.”
“And what would we do for entertainment?” Nicoleasks.
