Page 44 of Breathing Wisteria
“Cass,” Wyatt interjects and thank fuck for that. “That sounds like an incredible opportunity, why wouldn’t you do it? I mean it would suck for us, we would miss you so much, but think about everything you could learn over there.”
Cassidy pushes away from the counter and heads to the refrigerator.
“I’m not saying it will never happen, just not right now.” She opens the door and examines the empty shelves, before turning to me with a quirked brow. “You know, considering you’re a millionaire rock star I would have thought you’d have something to feed your guests.”
Mason folds his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowed.
“Now is the perfect time to do this. The kids are young, we have enough in savings to live over there for a few years and if worse came to worst, I can pick up some freelance consulting work if I need to,” he argues. “You’re making excuses, Crazy.”
She slams the door shut and Wyatt and I exchange an awkward look. Watching our friends have a knockdown, drag-out fight isn’t the way I saw this night ending.
“Really? You really want to give up your job at the Youth Center and go back to corporate work?That’swhat you want?” she challenges.
“It might not even be necessary, but if I had to, I would. It wouldn’t be forever, and the benefits would far outweigh the negatives.”
“Ugh, would you stop being so damn logical, it’s annoying as fuck.”
Wyatt moves away from me and wraps Cassidy in a hug, whispering something in her ear. She rolls her eyes in response but pulls Wyatt to her tightly.
“We’ll talk about it at home,” she tells Mason over Wyatt’s shoulder. “I promise.”
The moment is interrupted by the buzz of the concierge phone by the front door and I move for it, eager to make an escape from the tension in the room. Probably an asshole move to leave it for Wyatt to deal with, but let’s face it, out of the two of us she’s the most likely to actually help.
“Yeah.”
“Good evening, Mr. Maguire. This is Eleanor from concierge. I’m sorry to bother you but you have a pizza delivery here for you and they are refusing to leave the order with me.”
“No problem, I’ll be right down.”
Three minutes later I walk into the lobby and find myself coming to a complete standstill when I see who is waiting there holding our pizza.
Giselle fucking Cross.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Giselle?”
My tone catches the attention of the concierge, who looks between Giselle and me nervously.
“Is everything okay, Mr. Maguire?”
“Everything is fine, Eleanor,” Giselle soothes. “We’re old friends, isn’t that right, Flynn?”
She’s looking at me calculatingly, counting on me not wanting to make a scene, and she knows she has me because the last thing I want is for Wyatt to find out she is here.
“Walk with me.” She saunters off toward the lounge area that is set up discreetly in the back corner of the lobby.
I follow uneasily, kneading an anxious palm over my neck, and watch her take a seat as though she doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Here.” She thrusts the pizza at me. “I had to call in a big favor to make this meeting happen.”
“Are you expecting a thank-you because you, what? Bribed some dumb-ass pizza delivery kid? Every delivery kid in the city?” I shake my head. “You’re fucking delusional.”
“Not a thank-you, no. Just want you to know how dedicated I am, I guess. So.” She throws me a sly grin. “A wife, huh?”
“Yep,” I bite out, turning away, determined not to give her anything she can use.
“You know, I still remember the first time I saw you on stage. You were hot as fuck, pissed at the world and had sex written all over you. That night was…” She trails off, the silence hanging in the air until I finally look at her. “I guess that makes you a cheater, doesn’t it?”
My head snaps back as though I was punched, and I feel like my veins are on fire as I try to control the anger suddenly pummeling me.
