I said it, then realized what an admission that was. I walked a little slower and Kitty kept pace with me.
“And what do you mean by that, Annie Markham?”
“Uh, well? I may not have been entirely honest about how things went with Roger.”
Jessie grimaced. “Should I not be here?”
“No. You can hear this. It’s my own damn fault. Don’t judge me. Or do. It doesn’t look great.”
“Annabelle Jane Markham.” Kitty was full-naming me.
“Alright, so we actually met at work. He was one of the partners. It all started after hours one day. We were working onseparate things, both working late. He stopped by my office to chat, and one thing led to another. I said I don’t do stuff with married men, and he said he was divorced.”
“Oh, no. He wasn’t, was he?” Jessie winced.
I shook my head. “Nope. But I didn’t find out until we were pretty involved.” I heaved a sigh. “He said he was getting a divorce. Then he was getting a divorce soon. Then he was leaving her for me. Then he was coming with me to the wedding, our first time away together. Then he wasn’t coming to the wedding because she found out.”
Jessie rubbed a hand down my arm as we approached the door of the thrift store. “Sorry.”
“No, I am. Makes me the least girls’ girl ever. I should have stopped long before I did. I was just so convinced he was really going to choose—” I broke off.
Kitty pulled me to the side of the door and hugged me. “You’re still a girls’ girl. You’re in recovery. Men are stupid. It’s hard to see what you’re doing when you’re in love.”
“I never thought this would be who I am,” I said, regaining my composure.
“It’s not who you are. You were human, Annie,” Kitty said, a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve done every single thing right in your life. Doing one thing wrong doesn’t make you a bad person.”
“That’s right,” Jessie said. “Go easy on yourself. I don’t blame the girl who Cole lied to and cheated on me with. He lied. She fell for it. There’s nothing wrong with falling for it. Men are good at lying. And then you’re invested. I can see where it’d be hard to turn back.”
I nodded. “Thanks, y’all.” I patted under my eyes and sniffed, eager to get back to more pleasant topics. “Okay, let’s find me some work clothes.”
Jessie grinned. “That, I can do.”
* * *
Bags loaded down with clothes, some of which Jessie’d already marked for alterations, we headed back for our houses. She’d have me looking like vintage working Barbie in no time. Jessie and Kitty lived in the same neighborhood, so we rode together. We were headed to the Princes’ home opener after we showered, and I had hot plans to shotgun a Diet Coke while I was in the shower. Shower beers are no match for a crispy cold shower DC.
Right before we pulled into the neighborhood, my phone chimed.
Nick Oberbeck
Come to my game tonight. I need to talk to you after
My breath caught. What was this?
Is it about work?
No. But it’s important. I left you two tickets at will call.
I’m already going with Jessie and Kitty
Good. We’ll have to go somewhere private after. I can give you a ride home.
Who the hell ended texts with periods? Why was he so serious? What were we going to do, mafia business?
What could Nick Oberbeck need me for that didn’t have to do with work?
Chapter 17
