Page 33 of Game Change

As of this moment, I’m grateful I won’t have to look at her face for the next few days.

Chapter 17

Brynne

“So that decrepit old dude went back on his word and gave the job to his trifling ass nephew? And his nephew is the guy whose bones you were jumping on vacation. Do I have that right?”

I nod at Raven and give Amira the side-eye as she pulls a pair of black leather pants from my closet. I shake my head no at her, but she throws them on the bed, and they hit my feet. She returns to my closet in search of more clothes.

I’m under my down comforter, wearing my most comfortable set of gray sweatpants. I’ve already told them I’m not going anywhere but they act like they didn’t hear me.

“See, this is why men are the worst. It doesn’t matter about their age, race, or sexual orientation. They all suck,” Raven says, and I nod in agreement. “I saw Leo and his boyfriend today.” She makes a face. “And that bastard had the nerve to come up to me and ask if we can be friends. I threw my hot chocolate in his face and walked away.”

“I hope it burned,” Amira says.

“Doubt it. It wasn’t that hot, but it did ruin his cashmere coat.” Raven gets up and starts rummaging through my closet with Amira.

“The cashmere coat you got him for Christmas a few years ago?” I ask.

“Yup, and it felt glorious.”

“I don’t know which of us has it worse,” Amira yells from the closet. “Raven’s ex left her for a man. Brynne accidentally fucked her boss, and I’m men-repellant.”

“No, you’re not,” I say. “But the stuff about me and Raven is true. I think Rave and I are cursed.”

“Speak for yourself,” Raven says. “I ain’t cursed, and Amira will be riding a big dick in no time.”

“With my luck, I’ll fall off and break it.”

I make a face at that, and Raven giggles at the thought.

“Have Brynne give you some pointers. Out of all of us, she’s the one who rode dick recently.”

“Don’t make me vomit,” I groan.

I never sent Colin the email he requested. I left the office immediately after that last confrontation and worked from home until it was time to leave for the airport. I’ve ignored all his emails since, and there have been plenty. If I could figure out a way to block him at work, I would do it. His reaction be damned. He joined the meeting remotely but let me take the lead—at least until I finished my presentation when he chimed in with his two cents, which I ignored.

I returned on Thursday afternoon and took Friday as a personal day, where all I did was lie in bed, eat Oreos, and binge-watch Love is Blind. It’s been a hell of a week. One of the worst of my life, but I’ve hit rock bottom before, and I’ve bounced back. I’ve given myself a deadline to end my moping. By the time I step back into the office on Monday, I’ll be back to being professional, and there will be no more confrontations with Colin Kincaid. I will treat him with nothing but professional courtesy and complete deference.

“Well, maybe itisa coincidence,” Amira says, and I shake my head at her. Always the optimist. Despite having a shitty sister and mother, she can always see the bright side. I wish I had some of her optimism.

“There is no coincidence that big,” I say. “It was all a ploy. The one time I decide to be slutty, and this is what I get. I’m closing my coochie back up for good. Maybe there’s a good convent in the mountains somewhere I can join. Maybe a silent order where my only companions will be the local sheep.” I take a pillow and cover my face with it. “And to think, I fell for a man wearing Crocs.” I let out a loud groan. “Crocs of all things. His taste in footwear should have been my first clue.”

“I have a question,” Amira says. “Did he take off the Crocs while you two were making love or did he keep them on?” She giggles at her own question, and I throw a pillow at her.

“But you weren’t slutty, though,” I hear Raven say. “You were into him, and he was into you.” Someone yanks the pillow off my face, and I’m hit with something else. “Get dressed. We’re still going out to celebrate you.”

“There’s nothing to celebrate. I’m a loser.” My friends made a reservation at my favorite restaurant before we went on vacation. “Let’s each order a large pizza and see which one of us can finish it first.”

“You’re fabulous,” they both say at once. Amira takes my hand and pulls me off the bed.

I slide off and lie on the carpeted floor. “I’m a dumbass who made bad decisions and can’t quit now like I want to. Why did I have to buy that house?” I ask my friends.

“Because the house was in your family and should have never gone to your piece of crap stepbrother,” Raven says.

“Ex-stepbrother,” I remind them. “Who had the nerve to call me a couple of days ago.” They both look at me with their mouths hanging open. “I didn’t answer because fuck that guy.”

“We’ll have to get into that another day. Tonight is about you, and we’re going to celebrate. Get up.” They each take one of my arms and pull me up.

---