Page 101 of The Good Luck Cafe
“It’s okay. How is she?”
“She’s upset. I didn’t even know about what she did to that guy. She never told me. That is so unlike Moira.”
Gil cleared his throat. “Well, Felix had it coming.”
“What do you mean?” Tess asked.
Gil hesitated. “Because of what he did.”
“I’m still not following,” Tess said.
Gil froze. “Moira didn’t tell you what happened?”
“Apparently not.”
If she didn’t tell her best friend, she wasn’t going to defend herself to the public either. “Is she just hoping this will all go away by laying low?” Gil asked.
“Moira is good at laying low. Too good for her own good. I don’t care that she terrorized some guy in the past. I’m shocked because that’s not the Moira I know, but it sounds like there’s more to the story.”
“Yeah,” Gil said. “It’s not my story to tell though. Thanks for the update, Tess.”
“Of course. Gil?”
“Yeah?” he asked.
“I’m not just Moira’s friend, I’m yours too. I haven’t really known you to get serious with a lot of people either. Speaking from experience, you don’t get sparks often. When you do, they’re worth fighting for.”
“Thanks,” Gil said for lack of anything better to say. “Bye, Tess.”
“Bye.”
He disconnected the call and set his phone back on his nightstand. Then he lay back in his bed and closed his eyes. Tess was right. Moira was worth fighting for, but how could he fight for her when she was emotionally MIA? And did she want him to fight for her? He was in love with her, but did she feel the same way?
***
Moira’s phone rang. She stared at it for a long moment. The last three calls had been from the media. There’d also been one from an old friend she hadn’t spoken to in six years. Everyone wanted to know about Moira’s criminal past.
Moira finally reached for her cell phone and eyed the caller ID. Her stomach dropped. It was worse than the media. She loved her mom, but Darla wasn’t calling for pleasantries. She’d want to know why she’d never heard a word of any of the things the article was accusing Moira of, and if Moira was guilty, why had she done them.
If Moira didn’t answer, her mom would just drive over here. On a breath, Moira connected the FaceTime call and held the phone in front of her face. “Hi, Mom.”
“Are you okay?” Darla asked immediately.
Moira was sick of being asked that question. She didn’t want to lie anymore. “Not really.”
“Is it true?”
“Yes,” Moira said, suddenly feeling a wave of nausea. She’d always had a fear of disappointing her parents.
“I’m guessing it wasn’t Gil’s apartment you were wrecking. This roommate of his must have done something pretty awful to warrant you behaving so badly. I know you. You wouldn’t harm anyone unless they hurt you first.”
Moira swallowed. “He tried…” Her mouth was dry, and her heart was beating way too fast. “He tried, but he didn’t,” she managed to say.
Her mom exhaled loudly on the other line. “I see. Well, regardless of what did or didn’t happen, I’m so proud of you, Moira.”
“Proud? But I committed crimes. I broke into someone’s home and destroyed their belongings.”
“Yes, you did. And you also stood up for yourself. Maybe not in the right way, but a woman in pain lashes out. I’m not here to judge you. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
