Page 109 of Brassy Bigwig

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“His ex-wife?” Shelby shrieks.

I just walked in the door, and the moment I laid eyes on her the words practically fell out of my mouth.

“His ex-fucking-wife.”

“Holy shit, you really do need some wine.”

I follow Shelby into the kitchen and sit at the island while she grabs the glasses. With my head in my hands, I close my eyes and try to keep it from spinning. My migraine is back in full force.

“Oh my god,” I scoff. “I should have gone straight back to the penthouse before coming here. I have all my shit there.”

Fuck.

“I’ll help you get it tomorrow while D is at work if you want.”

“Thanks.”

When I hear the front door open, I think it’s D coming to take me back for a moment. I’m stupidly let down when I realize it’s Reed.

“Hey,” Shelby says to him. “I thought you were working.”

She approaches him and plants a kiss on his cheek.

“I’ve been busting my ass for a while now. I told them I was taking a little time off.”

That’s random and weird. Especially after what Shelby just said about him pulling away from her. But maybe she was wrong, and he really has just been very busy.

“Besides, when you told me Chloe was moving back in, I thought you girls would probably need some of this.”

Jesus, Shelby moves fast. But she has to. She keeps up with the gossip in this town like no one I’ve ever seen before. People rely on her for it. He holds up the bag in his hand, and I can make out the Ben and Jerry’s label on two pints of ice cream inside of it.

“I didn’t say she was moving back in—I mean, I think maybe she might be—but that’s very sweet of you. Thanks for thinking of us.”

“Yeah, thanks, Reed.”

“Sorry to hear things aren’t going to work out for you and D. He was a pretty cool guy.”

I offer Reed a tiny smile.

“Here’s your wine.” Shelby places a glass on the counter in front of me, but I don’t even want it anymore.

“I’m sorry, I think I’m just going to go lay down. My migraine is back.”

I hop off of the stool and walk into my old room, which makes me feel claustrophobic compared to what I was used to at D’s place. Shutting the door behind me, I crawl into bed and sob. I hold my pillow to my face to keep the noise from drifting down the hall and into the kitchen. I don’t want them to know I’m in here, crumbling to pieces. That my heart hurts so badly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to love again.

I hear Shelby softly enter the room and shut the door behind her. She crawls into bed and wraps her arms around me.

That’s all I needed to let go and allow my tears to flow freely. For the rest of the day and the entire night that followed, she held me while I sobbed.

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