“Speaking of spa, have you looked at the places I showed you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”
“You damn right, here we go.”
“No, I haven’t had a chance yet, between full-time work, part-time customers and volunteering at the women’s shelter. I just don’t have the time to look into it.”
I frowned. “Why’re you lying your ass off right now?”
“How am I lying? You know how busy I am these days.”
“Yeah, and I know that’s intentional avoidance. Look, if it’s the legal stuff, you know I got you on that. If it’s the financial stuff you need help with, I can ask my cousin Jamal. He was an accountant on his way to making partner before he branched off on his own, and he’s doing well. He offers financial planning for entrepreneurs. I think—”
“Hold up, you mean your cousin that was at the club that night?ThatJamal?” Her eyes were wide, looking at me as if I’d lost my mind.
I lowered my brows, confused. “Yes,thatJamal. What’s wrong with him?”
“Uh, did you see the looks his ass was giving me at the club?”
“No, what looks?”
“All judgmental-like.”
I frowned. I hadn’t noticed that, but admittedly I hadn’t been paying much attention, trying to both ignore and sneak glances at Xavier that night.
“No, I didn’t notice that. Are you sure?”
“Hell yeah, I’m sure. His ass was sizing me up and had decided I wasn’t good enough to be in his space. I’m not going to his ass for help.”
I shook my head. “Gabby, I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing. But,” I held up my hand to halt her interruption. “There are other financial advisors out there who can help you, if that’s what’s keeping you from taking the jump.”
She had the damn audacity to mean-mug me. “If I need help with anything,I’ll let you know. But don’t ask that snooty-ass, uppity-ass, looking-down-his-nose-on-me-ass cousin of yours nothing.”
I laughed. “I don’t think Mal is that bad, but I’ll leave it alone for now.”
“Yeah well,Malcan mind his damn business,” she tutted and took another sip of her wine.
I wondered what had gotten her so hot under the collar at Jamal. From what I saw that night and what I heard now, they’d barely had an exchange of words past basic introductions.
“All right, let me ask you something else then.” I decided to change the subject to something that had been on my mind. “You ever want to speak to someone from your past? Ask them why they did something, for closure?”
She frowned, her forehead wrinkling as she contemplated. “Shit, Chanel, the only people I’d want to do that with are dead.”
I sighed regretfully.Her parents. Of course, that’d be who she’d want closure with.
“I’m sorry—” I started, but she held her hand up.
“Don’t be. Why’re you asking?”
I gave a one-shoulder shrug before taking another sip of wine.Ethan.That was why. Ever since that letter I got at my office two weeks ago, then that incident with Anne Marie at the farmer’s market, and Xavier asking me who’d hurt me, I’ve been tempted to respond to Ethan. It’d been years since I’d seen him. I never thought I’dwantto see him again. But maybe I did. Maybe I wanted closure.
“Anyway, closure is a myth,” Gabby continued, as if reading my thoughts. “All that ‘I want closure’ shit is just nonsense to keep people reeled into the bullshit. Move on and let go, that’s the real closure.”
She had a point, but still, the tone of that letter wasn’t the Ethan I knew five years ago. Maybe he really had changed, or maybe he was bullshitting me yet again. Trying to find some way to manipulate my emotions. I didn’t know, but I wanted some answers for myself.
“Yeah, I was just thinking about something a client of mine said earlier this week,” I lied. “She wanted closure with a cheating ex. No big deal. Let’s start the movie and where’s the popcorn?”
“Popcorn and more wine coming up.” Gabby sprang up from the couch, heading toward the kitchen while I scrolled through the On Demand shows. As I got settled onto the couch my phone buzzed.
