“I’m Ben.”
“Ben? What is your last name, Ben?” I’m getting louder and angrier. It can’t be helped.
“Maybe your mom should––”
Deciding to ease up to get the answers I need, I say more softly, “No. That’s okay. You can tell me. What is your last name, Ben?”
“It’s Martin. Ben Martin.”
“You married my mom?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
“Last month?”
“In Vegas.”
“In Vegas?” I’ve always wanted to go to Las Vegas. Mom knows that. We talked about a girls’ trip off and on after I turned twenty-one. But that didn’t work out.
Nothing seems to be working out.
“Oh, here she comes.”
Holding back the emotion that has hit me suddenly, I croak. “No. That’s okay. Tell her to fuck off for me, would you?”
“Wait. Willa…?”
I hang up dropping the phone right then and there like it was burning my palm. I stare down at it half hoping, half dreading she’ll call me back. The fact that she doesn’t hurts more than anything I can describe. Not as much as the day I got the call about my father, but it’s right up there because I feel like I heard the same news. Except it’s me and my mom.
I’m dead to her.
ChapterTwenty-Five
HUDSON
“Hudson!”
I’m standing in my box at the Hawks game when I hear “Yo, Hudson!” coming from somewhere below. Glancing down, I see a familiar face standing on the mezzanine level. She’s waving both of her arms at me. I wave back at Willa’s friend, Bonnie.
Willa.
She never called. Not even a text. She made her decision. It still hurts to think about, so I do my fucking best not to.
Bonnie’s frantically pointing down now and yelling, “Come down here. I need to talk to you.”
I want to shake her off. I’m not sure I want to hear what she has to say. What if she’s going to tell me that Willa met someone else?
“Hudson!” She’s now cupping her mouth and shouting even louder. “Come. Down. Here. It’s about Willa.”
I frown.
“She’s in trouble.”
That’s all I needed to hear. I hold up a finger, letting her know I’ll be right down. I run out the door and down the hallway, avoiding the crowd meandering around this upper level. It takes too long, but I’m finally on the mezzanine level. Looking to my right, I spot Bonnie in the same spot. Jogging up to her, I’m panting a little. “What’s wrong with Willa?” I look beyond Bonnie. “Is she here?”
