Page 48 of Thanks for the Friendship
“I know, and believe me, I never wanted it to come from her.”
“Who else knows?” Gabby asks.
I chew on my lip. I don’t want to tell her that Theo knows, but I don’t want to keep anything from her.
“Well, Sara brought it up at Diane’s birthday lunch. So, all of her friends know,” I say with a shrug.
“Does Theo know?” Gabby asks.
Crap.
“Yes, but I didn’t tell him. That was Cal.”
She shakes her head.
“Please don’t be mad at him,” I beg. “He just found out before he left on the trip, and I asked him not to say anything because I wanted to be the one to talk to you guys about it. Obviously Bethany ruined that like she does everything else.”
There’s an uncomfortable tension in the room. I shouldn’t have let it go this long. I’m not even sure why I waited anymore.
“Look, I’m really sorry. I guess it was just too hard to face the fact that everything in my life is changing. If I didn’t tell you, then I could avoid the inevitable.”
Reagan sits down on the couch, her face softening slightly.
“So, when are you putting the house on the market?” Gabby asks.
I sigh. “My parents said we didn’t have to do it right away, but I know they’re anxious to get it done. I have to touch base with them once I have a timeframe that works for all of us. They would never force me to do it if we don’t have somewhere else to live.”
I can feel tears threatening my eyes, but I hold them in. I need to hold it together—it’s not like I haven’t left home before.
“I’m guessing Bethany reached out to you despite my trying to discourage her.”
Reagan nodded. “She texted me a few days ago, but I ignored it and deleted the message. Today she called me from a number I didn’t recognize. I fell right into her trap.”
“And she used me to help her case.”
She nods. “She told me that she had some important news that you were keeping from me and Gabby.”
For once Bethany wasn’t lying.
“Why does everything have to happen all at once?” Gabby asks. “Fun in the Sun is closing, and now we have to find a new place to live.”
Reagan looks stunned. “What?”
Gabby tells her about Elizabeth’s London plans.
“Wow, I’m sorry to hear that.”
Speaking of keeping things from people, I haven’t even told Gabby that Elizabeth asked if I’d take over the agency. I’m definitely not saying anything tonight. There’s been enough news for one day.
“You both have every right to be upset with me,” I say glumly. “I just hope that we’re able to make the most of the time we have left together in this house.”
Reagan’s eyes fill with tears, prompting Gabby to move next to her and put her arm around her.
I try to force the lump in my throat away, but it doesn’t disappear. My roommates both start crying, and before I know it, I give up the fight. A single tear slides down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away.
Once again I’m reminded that life keeps moving fast no matter how hard we try to slow it down.
Chapter Fourteen
