Page 62 of Highest Bidder

Two minutes later, my phone buzzed again.

Jeff: If you don’t show up tonight, the contract is null and void.

Me: Then I guess it’s null and void.

My stomach twisted at the thought of losing out on that money, but there was no way I could bring myself to go tonight.

Let him be pissed. Let him report me to the club if he wanted. I didn’t care.

Except I did.

I stacked the last towel on the pile and told myself I wasn’t going to cry again. My eyes were still puffy from my sob session last night and again this morning, even after putting frozen spoons on them.

My phone buzzed again, only this time the message was from Kit.

Kit: How are you holding up?

Me: He just told me if I don’t show up, the contract is null and void. Which means I get nothing.

Kit: You sure you want to walk from sixty grand? It’s just one more weekend.

Me: I can’t do it, Kit. He humiliated me in front of everyone I work with.

Kit: Yeah, but did they know what was happening?

Me: I’m sure Sapphire must have, and she probably told everyone else by the end of the night.

Kit: I’m all for some light vandalism when I get home. A rock through a window. Maybe some spray paint on his garage…

God, I loved her.

Me: I’ll think about it, but for now, I’m going to curl up in a ball and cry some more.

Kit: He’s not worth your tears, babe. Order a pint of ice cream and a bottle of wine from Instacart and put on a horror flick. DO NOT WATCH A ROMCOM! Tomorrow we’re getting mani/pedis.

Me: I love you so much. Thank you for letting me crash here for another night.

Kit: You did my laundry. You’re welcome any time!

I wasn’t going to overstay my welcome, but I did want to spend a little extra time with her. I’d been thinking about what Mom, Hope, and I were going to do come Tuesday when I didn’t have the big payment we’d promised Lorenzo. As much as it sucked, the only feasible option was to skip town for a while.

Maybe a fresh start would do us all good.

~~~~

“Are you okay?” Hope asked from the couch, curled up with her knees under her chin and a mug of cocoa in her hands.

I nodded, even though I wasn’t. I doubted I ever would be again.

Mom walked into the living room and did a doubletake when she looked at me.

“Viv, what’s wrong?”

I’d come over Sunday evening after spending all weekend trying to figure out how I was going to tell my family I hadn’t been able to come up with the money for Lorenzo after all.

I’d never explained how I was getting a big influx of cash, and they were both street-savvy enough to know not to ask.

“I think we might need to start thinking about leaving town,” I said, keeping my voice low.

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