Page 60 of Bad Love

Guilt works through me, and I grimace. Monty’s always worried about something, but now he looks legit strung-out. And even though I stand by my assessment of Deacon, I don’t like putting my best friend in a tough spot. "Tell me what needs to get done before the board meeting. We’ll figure itout."

"Deacon had a list. But off the top of my head…" He rattles off a fewthings.

"Can his staff doit?"

"Not without someone tosupervise."

Supervising sounds like getting my eyes stabbedout.

But Monty's looking at me balefully, and my chesttightens.

When my phone buzzes with a text, I’m granted a briefreprieve.

Mom:Hi, honey. Is Monty coming to the holidayparty?

Ihold out my phone,and Monty looks atit.

"Got my invite," hesays.

It’s impossible to stay upset in the face of my mom’s start-of-summer bonanza. It’s a mass of people and flowers and food and booze and good weather. Because even the weather would feel like a dick denying my mom her moment ofglory.

It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year. When I traveled for modeling, I’d always come home forit.

"You driving up for the night?" heasks.

"I'm gonna stay for the weekend. We can drive together if you can score your own ride back. I'll let my mom know you’ll bethere."

"Fine. Now we need to finish this Deaconconversation."

But his phonerings.

"You wanna get that?” Iask.

“No, we need to—” He looks at the phone and curses. “Yeah, I do. Don’t goanywhere.”

Still, as soon as he answers the phone, I leave his office, catching the eye of a few of the productionstaff.

Deacon’s never been my biggest fan. Possibly because most of the times I emailed him were when I had gone over his head and decided something with Monty. And sure, the majority of our meetings were when he briefed me before quarterly meetings so I could make the presentation on the state ofmarketing.

But he was never constructive either. He’d glare at me when we saw each other, make digs at me in meetings with Monty. He’d shoot down ideas because they were mine, which basically forced me to go over hishead.

I’d figured leveling with him man-to-man was the decent thing todo.

Apparentlynot.

Because he’s an insecurepussy.

It's been a week ofmindfucks.

And it's onlyTuesday.

Yesterday, Kendall blew my mind at her office. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Especially because I swear it affected her as much as it did me. That was why I texted her after dinner lastnight.

A simple "You rubbed one out in front of me in your office bathroom—you good?"courtesy.

Logan:I trust the rest of your day wasenjoyable.

The reply came backan hourlater.

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