Page 91 of Don't Bet On It
“Do you know what else is gross?” Olivia’s tone tipped me off that she was about to take things to an uncomfortable place. Itwas too late to stop her. “It’s gross when one best friend embarks on a new relationship and doesn’t tell the other best friend.”
My jaw swayed in the breeze, I was so surprised.
“Smooth,” Ruby said, laughing. “I thought you were going to be subtle.”
My gaze swung to her. “You know too?” I had no idea what to make of that.
“Look how surprised she is,” Ruby said, laughter still in her voice. “Did you really think you were fooling anybody?”
I believed I’d been fooling everybody. Finding out I hadn’t been was … well, it was frightening. “I’m not going to be fired, am I?” I blurted the words before thinking about them. “I agreed to lease half of Ronan’s studio for a year. If I need to figure out a different way to cover the payment, tell me now. I can’t leave him in the lurch.”
Actually, Ronan had been annoyed when I insisted on paying him for the space. I couldn’t have it any other way. It would feel too much like charity if he gifted me the space. I didn’t do well with charity.
Olivia froze with her glass of cucumber water halfway to her lips. “Why would you be fired?” She looked genuinely baffled.
“Because fraternization isn’t allowed.”
“Says who?”
“Um, the handbook they give all of us when we’re hired. It’s important enough that it’s on the third page.”
Ruby laughed gaily. “Oh, geez. I forgot that was still in the handbook.”
Why wasn’t she more upset? “If you’re going to fire someone, make sure it’s me,” I ordered. “Don’t fire Ronan. He’s a good guy, and he deserves his job.”
“Should I take that to mean that you’re not a good gal and you don’t deserve your job?” Ruby fired back.
“No, of course not.” I shook my head. “It’s just… I don’t want him to suffer because of me.”
“Nobody is going to suffer,” Olivia insisted. “That fraternization rule isn’t enforced.” She seemed to think better of it when she said it. “Right?” she asked Ruby.
“Um, I was your brother’s boss, and then we had a baby together, and now we’re getting married,” Ruby replied. “If that rule was enforced, I would have to fire myself.”
“You’re management, though.”
“So?” Ruby wrinkled her nose. “That rule was put on the books back when my grandfather was in charge. He was not a fun guy. If I remember correctly, he didn’t care about the male workers when he enacted that rule. He cared about the female workers. He wanted them to remain virtuous, which is kind of funny because I think the uniforms in the cocktail lounges back then involved cotton bunny tails and glittering cleavage.”
My lips swished at the disdain so obvious on her face. “So fraternization isn’t banned?”
“Of course not.” Ruby waved off the suggestion. “You’re free to bone Ronan to your heart’s content.”
“Isn’t it the other way around?” Olivia asked. “Wouldn’t he be the one boning her?”
Of course my best friend would get caught up onthatdetail. She was an accountant. She liked things to be black and white.
“Either way, somebody got boned.” Ruby wasn’t about to be corrected. “Tell us what’s going on with Ronan.” She looked genuinely interested. “How long have you guys been together?”
“I wouldn’t say we’re together,” I hedged uncomfortably, darting my eyes away.
“Oh, you wouldn’t?” Ruby cocked her head. “What would you say?”
“Yeah, what would you say?” Olivia echoed in taunting fashion.
I shifted my attention to her. She was being snarky, but something else was lurking in her eyes. It was hurt. “Livvie.” I reached over and snagged her hand before she could jerk it away from me.
“What?” She made a face. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I meant it. I wouldn’t hurt her for anything.
