Page 66 of Healed
“Yes! Anyway, in addition to getting himself removed from the clan, he was sleeping around, a lot for a while but hey, that’s not a crime. But then he hooked up with this girl. I’ll be honest here, I don’t know her. She might be lovely. But first impressions say she is not. She was all about the money and nothing else when they came into my shop to order a wedding cake.”
“Wedding?!” Cristie half-shouted.
“Yep. I asked her what kind of filling she wanted and she said she didn’t know exactly, but she wanted whichever one was the most expensive. I suggested that she cover the cake in edible 24 karat gold flake, sarcastically but also just trying to see how far she’d go, and she jumped at the chance and finally settled on a 24 karat gold covered cake with the most expensive filling, and balanced among a champagne fountain, because it most likely can’t be done and hers will be the first. I’ve heard that he’s paying her bills, and buying her clothes, and I’m not sure personally, but I’ve been told that all his money is gone, too. Literally all his money. His bank account is negative. I can’t help but think that she’s spent it, or transferred it to her own accounts. Now, that is speculation on my part, I don’t know ifshe’s done that or if it was him drinking it all away, but I do know that he gave her a debit card and within less than a month, he’s overdrawn.”
“And he’s still drunk.”
“Yes. I mean falling down drunk, Cristie. Like, Vince called Brandt to come get him out of the bar and grill.”
“That’s horrible,” Cristie said.
“It is. It breaks my heart, but I know that if I step in and try to speak to him, he still harbors so much anger toward me, that he might just get drunker to show me he can.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Cristie, I don’t know if you saw it or not, but when you were here, he was captivated. I mean, fully focused, every cell in his body, the very core of his soul was honed in on you. And rightly so, you’re his mate. Created to be his match. He’s defensive, and offensive even, when anyone tries to talk to him and point out what’s happening, what he’s doing to himself. Maybe if you spoke to him, he’d listen. Maybe you can save him, Cristie.”
“Bailey, I don’t know… he refused to see me before I left. I made sure that he knew and he avoided me like the plague.”
“Because he knew that if he looked at you again, he wouldn’t be able to look away.”
“He didn’t want me, Bailey,” Cristie said.
“Oh, yes. He did. And that was part of the problem. He felt guilty for wanting you after the relationship we’d built. Which is why he avoided you. If he’d been honest with me to begin with, I might have been a little hurt, but I’d have understood. I do understand. I really, really want him to be okay.”
“What do you get out of this? Why did you decide to call me?”
“I want him to be as happy as I am. I want him to be the man he was before fate screwed him all up. He’s too good. That’s why the guilt ate him up so bad. And when you left, and I was gone,the frustration and the pain of being separated from you was just too much for him to bear, but I don’t even think he realizes it. He’s just focused on pain, period.”
“So he started drinking,” Cristie said.
“Yes. I really think you’re the only one that can possibly make him snap out of it. You may not want him anymore, and that’s all between the two of you, but if there’s a chance you can help him, Cristie, please do it. Please try. I don’t think he’d fight against you like he does the rest.”
Cristie sat on her bed, her covers bunched around her, holding her phone to her ear as she listened to Bailey describe Remi and his behavior since the last time she’d seen him. If the pain of separation he was feeling was anything like she’d been feeling since discovering he was her mate, he was suffering greatly.
“I don’t know, Bailey. It’s a lot to consider.”
“I know. And maybe I shouldn’t have reached out, but if it was me, and I was to find out later his life had fallen apart and nobody even bothered to tell me, much less give me a chance to step in and see if I could help, I’d be angry. I know I don’t know you well, but I do know one thing that’s clear to anyone who ever meets you. You’re strong, so strong, and confident, and you’re a good person. I know you’ll do the right thing.”
Cristie sighed deeply. “I’ll think about it. I make no promises, but I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I ask. And at the very least, you’re aware and the choice is now in your hands. I’m sorry it had to be me to call, but no one else was and frankly, I’m not a member of the clan, so if they were standing on ceremony, I don’t have that problem. So I called.”
Cristie laughed. “I can see why you’re Tempest’s best friend. And don’t kid yourself, you’re strong, too. Stronger than you know.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. The number I called you on is my cell phone. If anything else happens that you think I should know about, please call me directly.”
“I will. Thank you for hearing me out, Cristie.”
“No, thank you. Now, go back to sleep. You’re going to have a lot of people standing in line in the morning, looking for some of that delicious coffee and donuts you offer.”
Bailey chuckled. “It was good talking to you, Cristie. Good night.”
“Good night,” Cristie said, ending the call. She lay back down and spent the rest of the night thinking about everything Bailey had told her. By the time the sun began to rise, she was only sure of one thing… Remi needed a wake up call. And she was the one who had to deliver it, in person.
Chapter 12
