“Is he about to come bitch me out over this?” She glanced toward her daughter. “That dude is scary.”
“He isnotscary,” I said. “He’s one of the nicest men I’ve ever met. And I think he actually wants to help you, be an anonymous source or something, but thanks so much for your assumptions.”
She closed her eyes and braced her hands on the island countertop. “I’m sorry. That was a crappy thing to say. This is just a lot to take in.”
“I get it. Maybe try to give him the benefit of the doubt from now on, though.”
“I will.” She opened her eyes and looked at me. “I need to call my editor and get an extension.”
“Okay.”
She picked up her phone and dialed. “Max? Hi, it’s Jane. Yeah. I’m glad you like it. I need you to hold off on doing anything with it. I know. I’m sorry. I may have an anonymous source with insider knowledge of the lawsuit. No. Max,no.Do you not understand the meaning of anonymous?”
Some of my dread eased hearing her be so firm with her editor. I picked up my own phone and texted Ben.
She won’t say anything.
OK. On the way. Just dropped the puppies off at Jack’s.
I grinned.Good luck getting them back from him.
He didn’t respond. I assumed it was because he was driving. I set the phone down and looked up to see Jane doing the same.
She met my gaze. “This is surreal.”
“Tell me about it. I almost had a heart attack when you told me what the article is about.”
She laughed. The sound was frayed at the edges. “No kidding. You looked like it.”
“I’m sorry for freaking you out. And for snapping,” I said. I just got back in her good graces. I didn’t want to have another fallout right now.
She walked around the island and hugged me, short enough that she could rest her head on my shoulder, just like Mom. “It’s okay. I know how protective you can be.” We let go, and she grinned up at me. “Remember the first time you met Dave?”
I smiled in return. “Ah, the threats I made.”
Her expression flattened. “Payback is a bitch.”
“Jane, don’t you dare! It’s not like that between Ben and me.”
“Oh? You didn’t just text him while I was on the phone?”
“I did. So what?”
“Sweetie, your face told me everything I need to know.” She patted me on the cheek hard enough to sting a little.
I stepped out of her reach. “Please don’t embarrass me.”
“I think I’ve made enough promises for one day, don’t you?” Her grin became malicious in a familiar way that suddenly clicked. So this was where Willow got it from.
“Jane.”
She cackled in response.
I spent the next ten minutes trying to bargain with her. Right up until the dogs leapt off the couch and started barking at the windows. Ben was here.
“Mommy, truck!” Willow helpfully supplied.
I went outside to meet him, letting the dogs streak past me through the door.
