Page 86 of The Confidentiality Clause
My phone buzzes in my hand, making my heart jump. It’s just an email alert telling me about an award one of my clients won. I sigh and text Marie to send them a congratulatory gift.
I don’t know if I can wait to go to Alabama. The anxiety of thinking that my sister and best friend hate me is too much. I texted Shaw two days ago with no response, but maybe if I call him, he’ll answer. If he doesn’t, I’ll resort to texting in the group chat with all of our friends. Which has been suspiciously quiet lately. Did they all talk and decide to digitally exile me?
Nervousness builds as I step into Ariel’s back yard and press call on Shaw’s name. The phone rings and rings. Just when I think it’s going to voicemail, he picks up.
“Hey,” he says.
“Look, I’m going to come right out and say a few things,” I blurt out. “I messed up. Big time. I pushed you and Sutton away, and I’m sorry. A lot has happened recently. I know Ariel told Sutton some of the story, but I’d like to talk about it with both of you. I’m going to try to come to Alabama. Maybe this weekend.”
There’s a long pause. I think I hear talking, and hushing sounds in the background. Maybe Sutton is with him?
“Uh, where are you now?” he asks.
My brows pull together. After everything I just said, that’s what he wants to know? I look over my shoulder. Through the sliding glass door, I see Ariel curled up in blankets on her couch.
“That’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. I’m at Ariel’s place.” I rake a hand through my hair and let out a nervous laugh. “We’re–well, we’re dating.”
“What?” my sister shrieks. I guessed correctly about her listening in.
I grimace. I was going to walk them through my side of the story,thentell them about me and Ariel.
“You and Ariel?” Shaw asks, but he sounds like he’s struggling to talk.
“Tell me everything.” Sutton’s voice is louder now. I’m betting she just took the phone from Shaw.
“Sutton, why would you–” Shaw’s voice cuts off. I look at my screen, which says the call is still connected. Shemutedher side.
“What is going on over there?” I can’t help but laugh.
The sound comes back. Sutton is hushing Shaw. Loudly. It’s like I’m playing mediocre ocean sounds at full volume.
“We’re very busy right now,” Sutton says. “But we’ll talk to you in a little while.”
My smile falls. “I know you’re mad, but can you give me a chance to apologize?” I pace Ariel’s back patio. “I’ll get a flight to Alabama today,” I decide aloud. My business can go up in flames for all I care. I can’t lose my family.
“No!” Sutton shouts, making me wince. “No, don’t do that. Just give me thirty minutes, okay?”
“Thirty minutes? What–”
The line goes quiet again. I look at my screen. She hung up. Feeling a little discouraged and a lot confused, I head back inside.
Ariel sits up when I walk in. “Hey, you okay?” Her sleepy voice makes me smile.
“I’m all right. How are you doing?”
I sit down next to her. She leans against me.
“Much better. Thank you for taking care of me.”
I wrap an arm around her and kiss the top of her head. “Anytime, Duke.”
“You sure you’re okay?” She tips her head back to look at me, blue eyes lined in concern.
“I called Shaw, and even talked to Sutton for a minute.”
“That’s good, right?”
“I’m not sure. They fought over the phone, and then Sutton said they were busy and needed thirty minutes. I told them that we were dating, because Shaw asked where I was. Why would he ask that?”
