Shehesitates and I can tell that she’s thinking it over.
After abeat she finally speaks. “You know what? Between you and me we’veboth bailed Will out more times than I care to admit to. It’s abouttime that brother of mine grew a pair and took someresponsibility.”
“I’m not going to argue with you in that one. That was halfthe reason why I left your brother.”
“Honey, it doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out. No, Ithink he ought to learn how to dig himself out oftrouble.”
“Or stop finding it. Maybe stop seeing that littlewhore.”
“Exactly. I think he bought his own problems,Ellie.”
“He said he lost everything. Like, he said he didn’t even haveroom on his credit card to pay for a flight home fromVegas.”
“Looks good on him.”
“Ouch.” I snuffle a half laugh.
“I’m serious. I mean, he’s an adult. I’m an adult. You’re aadult. Yet only two of us are actually acting like grownupshere.”
“And you don’t think we’re being insensitive?”
“No, I think that we’ve both enabled him for so dang long thathe feels like he can use either of us to dig him out of trouble.Well, just like you, I’m done with it.”
“And what if he ends up dead in a ditch somewhere? What if hereally has gotten himself knee deep in the mob?” I ask, voice flat,unimpressed with my ex.
“Ellie, if you and I continue to clean up his life he’s nevergoing to learn how to do it himself.”
“So we’re in agreement then.”
“One hundred percent.”
Maverickand company have disappeared from view and I pull up a little,trying to decide what to do.
“Denice, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“When I’m doubt, do you listen to your head or yourheart?”
“Depends what the matter is, Ellie, if y’all want thetruth.”
“What if it’s a matter of the heart?”
“This got anything to do with Maverick?”
Ihesitate, picturing his handsome face in my mind. A lump forms onmy throat at the thought of losing him. My voice cracks. “It haseverything to do with Maverick.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
Iexplain, telling her how I saw him with another woman.
“Ellie, I think you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t goafter him. At least if this girl is who you think she is, you’llknow either way if you tell him.”
“But what if he doesn’t love me, Denice?” I lick my lips.“What if I make a complete ass out of myself?”
“You’re a stocks and bonds broker, Ellie. You take calculatedrisks all the time.”
“This isn’t like that at all.”
