Rissy, too, answered right away. “Hey, Vee. What’s up?”
Going for the jovial route? Vanity found a smile. “You sound just like Armie.”
Rissy groaned. “You take that back.”
Vanity laughed. “Sorry.”
“So... I just wanted to see how you are. You looked pretty shook up yesterday when you left the bar. I’m not sure what’s going on with you and Stack, but—”
“It’s over.” The stunned silence surprised Vanity. “Merissa?”
“I’m here, I just... How can that be? Stack is crazy about you!”
Apparently not. “I did some stupid things, and I guess he couldn’t forgive me. It’s my own fault.”
“Damn, Vee. I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks.”
Uncertain, Merissa said, “If you want to talk—”
“I appreciate that, Rissy. I really do.” Sympathy would have her weeping again if she let it. “Right now I just want to stay busy.”
“I understand. If you change your mind, shoot me a text. I promise I can be very distracting.”
After agreeing that she would if necessary, Vanity got caught up on calls and texts. It seemed everyone wanted to talk to her, commiserate with her, try to make her feel better.
In different ways, they were each shocked that things were over between her and Stack.
One advantage to talking on the phone was that Vanity was able to ask for time. She didn’t want visits, and while some of the guys were adamant that she needed them, in the end they agreed to abide by her wishes.
Though her heart remained broken, at least she knew that Stack’s friends hadn’t given up on her. They didn’t know the issues, and they didn’t pry, but they did care about her.
She felt better, knowing she wasn’t alone after all.
Luckily, the resale shop stayed busy. She worked through lunch without a break, which suited her just fine. A few hours before her shift would end, things finally quieted down. Left with only her own unsettled thoughts, Vanity dropped to the stool behind the counter and propped her head on her hand.
Funny, because she usually didn’t see Stack much during the day, but every hour, every minute, she’d missed him. The thought of going home alone didn’t appeal at all. Maybe she needed to get a couple of dogs. When Norwood and Maggie had been there, the place had never felt empty. The dogs had brought a lot of energy and love to her house.
Her laugh sounded more like a sob. She couldn’t replace Stack with pets. But what choice did she have?
She was thinking of going by a shelter when her phone rang and startled her. In a glance she saw it was Jack Woolridge, the PI she’d hired, and immediately worried that something might have happened to Stack.
Anxious, she slipped off the stool and turned her back to the front door. “Jack, hello. Did you have news for me?”
“Matter of fact, ma’am, I do.” He gave a pause for emphasis, then announced, “I found Phil.”
Thank goodness. Vanity might have blown things with Stack, but she could give him this. “Where is he?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t think you need to worry about him. See, I found him at this bar just outside of town. He was with a woman, and I got close enough to listen in.”
Suspicions sharpened. “A woman?”
“Yeah. I pretended to be another drunk, so they paid no attention to me.”
To Vanity, it seemed obvious who the woman might be. “What did she look like?”
“I can do you one better than a description. I caught her name when Phil greeted her.”
“Whitney?”
“That’d be her. You know her?”
“She’s friends with Phil and used to date Stack.”
“Ah. Well, here’s the kicker. Phil accused her of sending more goons to beat up your boyfriend. He seemed real put out over it.”
Whoa, wait? What? “Phil thinks Whitney was behind that?”
“She didn’t really deny it,” Jack explained. “In fact, she laughed.”
Oh, my God. Vanity hadn’t figured on that twist. It didn’t make sense. “Why would Whitney do that?”
“Phil asked her the same thing. From what I could hear, she’s playing both sides. She said she learned from him, so I’m thinking Phil did send the first set of bully boys. Not to kill Hannigan or anything, just to stall him. Something about getting money from you.”
Oh, God. Phil had deliberately held up Stack to ensure he wouldn’t interrupt? New guilt stole her strength, and she backed up to sit on the stool. “Yes,” she said in a croak. “He asked me for money the same night Stack was attacked.”
Going for the jovial route? Vanity found a smile. “You sound just like Armie.”
Rissy groaned. “You take that back.”
Vanity laughed. “Sorry.”
“So... I just wanted to see how you are. You looked pretty shook up yesterday when you left the bar. I’m not sure what’s going on with you and Stack, but—”
“It’s over.” The stunned silence surprised Vanity. “Merissa?”
“I’m here, I just... How can that be? Stack is crazy about you!”
Apparently not. “I did some stupid things, and I guess he couldn’t forgive me. It’s my own fault.”
“Damn, Vee. I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks.”
Uncertain, Merissa said, “If you want to talk—”
“I appreciate that, Rissy. I really do.” Sympathy would have her weeping again if she let it. “Right now I just want to stay busy.”
“I understand. If you change your mind, shoot me a text. I promise I can be very distracting.”
After agreeing that she would if necessary, Vanity got caught up on calls and texts. It seemed everyone wanted to talk to her, commiserate with her, try to make her feel better.
In different ways, they were each shocked that things were over between her and Stack.
One advantage to talking on the phone was that Vanity was able to ask for time. She didn’t want visits, and while some of the guys were adamant that she needed them, in the end they agreed to abide by her wishes.
Though her heart remained broken, at least she knew that Stack’s friends hadn’t given up on her. They didn’t know the issues, and they didn’t pry, but they did care about her.
She felt better, knowing she wasn’t alone after all.
Luckily, the resale shop stayed busy. She worked through lunch without a break, which suited her just fine. A few hours before her shift would end, things finally quieted down. Left with only her own unsettled thoughts, Vanity dropped to the stool behind the counter and propped her head on her hand.
Funny, because she usually didn’t see Stack much during the day, but every hour, every minute, she’d missed him. The thought of going home alone didn’t appeal at all. Maybe she needed to get a couple of dogs. When Norwood and Maggie had been there, the place had never felt empty. The dogs had brought a lot of energy and love to her house.
Her laugh sounded more like a sob. She couldn’t replace Stack with pets. But what choice did she have?
She was thinking of going by a shelter when her phone rang and startled her. In a glance she saw it was Jack Woolridge, the PI she’d hired, and immediately worried that something might have happened to Stack.
Anxious, she slipped off the stool and turned her back to the front door. “Jack, hello. Did you have news for me?”
“Matter of fact, ma’am, I do.” He gave a pause for emphasis, then announced, “I found Phil.”
Thank goodness. Vanity might have blown things with Stack, but she could give him this. “Where is he?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t think you need to worry about him. See, I found him at this bar just outside of town. He was with a woman, and I got close enough to listen in.”
Suspicions sharpened. “A woman?”
“Yeah. I pretended to be another drunk, so they paid no attention to me.”
To Vanity, it seemed obvious who the woman might be. “What did she look like?”
“I can do you one better than a description. I caught her name when Phil greeted her.”
“Whitney?”
“That’d be her. You know her?”
“She’s friends with Phil and used to date Stack.”
“Ah. Well, here’s the kicker. Phil accused her of sending more goons to beat up your boyfriend. He seemed real put out over it.”
Whoa, wait? What? “Phil thinks Whitney was behind that?”
“She didn’t really deny it,” Jack explained. “In fact, she laughed.”
Oh, my God. Vanity hadn’t figured on that twist. It didn’t make sense. “Why would Whitney do that?”
“Phil asked her the same thing. From what I could hear, she’s playing both sides. She said she learned from him, so I’m thinking Phil did send the first set of bully boys. Not to kill Hannigan or anything, just to stall him. Something about getting money from you.”
Oh, God. Phil had deliberately held up Stack to ensure he wouldn’t interrupt? New guilt stole her strength, and she backed up to sit on the stool. “Yes,” she said in a croak. “He asked me for money the same night Stack was attacked.”
