Page 99 of Fair Play
“Don’t. You and my brother, you’re two of a kind, you know that? Always thinking you know what’s best. For yourselves and for me, but no one ever fucking asks me!” I swipe at the tears I can’t seem to stop. “Did it ever occur to you toaskif I was willing to live in your stupid cabin? Or if I would consider leaving L.A.? Or, you know, if I had an idea to open a franchise in New York? No? Of course not. Because poor Billie is just a dumb twenty-two-year-old who doesn’t know anything, right?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Billie, I need a little time to think, and to get through the season. Then we can regroup.”
I motion to the door. “Take all the time you need—but don’t expect me to be waiting when you’re done. I’m finished with both of you.”
“Honey...” His face softens, and it looks like he’s going to reach for me again. But then he seems to reconsider whatever it was he was going to do and merely nods. “If that’s what you want.”
“No, don’t put this on me.Youdid this. You and Bodi. So I hope you’re both happy.” I sink down in Nita’s chair. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
He doesn’t move for a moment, I can practically feel his eyes burning into the top of my head since I’m looking down at thepapers scattered in front of me. Papers I can’t see because my vision is blurred with tears.
“Take care of yourself, Billie.” His voice is so quiet I can barely hear him.
Then he’s gone and I give him thirty seconds before I drop my head on the desk and let the tears fall. I’m so angry at the two of them. And hurt that Rome doesn’t love me enough to put my brother in his place—make him understand that he’s in this for the long haul.
Because he isn’t.
The thought comes quickly and makes the tears fall harder.
“Honey, what happened?” I hear Nita’s voice, feel her hand on my shoulder.
For the first time in a long time, I miss my mom. Miss her so much it’s physically painful. She would know what to do. She would have my back, understand that I’m an adult with a mind—and a life—of my own.
Bodi finished raising me but that doesn’t give him the right to control me forever.
“I can’t… he doesn’t…” My words are jumbled and I’m crying so hard I can’t breathe.
Nita holds out her arms and I fall into them, sobbing.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispers, hugging me tightly. “I promise. He’s going to come to his senses. Both of them will.”
All I can do is cry.
“Can I… please…” I’m hiccupping between the words. “Stay with… you… for…”
“As long as you need. My guest room is empty. Don’t worry about anything.” She strokes my hair until I’m calmer.
When I finally lift my head I’ve smeared makeup all over her blouse and it’s sopping wet.
“I’m sorry…” I whisper, fumbling for a tissue.
“It’s just a shirt. It gets much dirtier over the course of the day when I’m in the kitchen.” She smiles. “Now tell me what happened.”
I blurt out the details of our conversation, which makes me start to cry all over again.
“Oh, Rome.” She sighs heavily. “So stubborn.”
“And Bodi is worse.” I sniffle.
“Come on—don’t cry. Let’s have Bryant make us something fun for lunch, and then we’ll finish the charts for your project. After that, if you’re up to it, we can go to your place and pack a bag. And tonight we’ll eat cookies and watch romcoms.”
I smile feebly. “Thank you. I guess it’s been a while since I had a good cry.”
“We all need one of those every now and then. Especially when the man in your life—or men, in this case—are behaving badly.”
