“If you knew the day I left Will, then you put me forward for this social media campaign knowing Will and I had broken up, and it would put me in a really difficult position with Pennington’s if they chose us.”
Her expression slammed closed as she took a step back.
“You did this deliberately. To damage my reputation here.”
No answer. Just that stony glare.
“Why?” I wanted to know for sure. “What have I ever done to you, Becky? Please tell me. Is it because you’re friends with Birgitta?”
She sniffed haughtily. “I don’t have a problem with you, Maia. You should really talk to a professional about your paranoia.” She smiled that saccharine fake smile and strutted past me.
Angry, frustrated tears threatened. I didn’t have an answer for Becky’s behavior, but I knew with certainty that this wasn’t over. She was determined to make things so hard for me here … to make me leave? To get me fired? And she was doing it in a way that made it hard to prove.
In that moment, there was only one person I wanted to see.
The person who did believe me.
As if Baird heard my thoughts, he texted me during my lunch break.
We should talk b4 the venue promo shoot 2mrrow.
I started to spiral again, wondering if that meant he’d changed his mind. Had I left it too long to respond to his declaration?
My fingers trembled as I replied.
Why don’t we meet for a swim tomorrow before the shoot?
His response was instantaneous.
Usual time. C U there.
No flirting. No banter. Straightto the point.
Oh goodness. My stomach flipped unpleasantly. What if he’d changed his mind?
Panic suffused me at the very thought.
Just like that, with such inconvenient timing, I knew exactly what I wanted to happen between us.
I had to hope I wasn’t too late.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
MAIA
Between today’s revelations about Becky, the anticipation of seeing Baird tomorrow, and not knowing how things between us would pan out, I was a jittery mess when I rang Joss and Braden Carmichael’s doorbell that evening.
My pseudo-aunt and -uncle were hosting a college graduation party for their son Luke. Luke was the middle Carmichael child. Beth was the eldest and Elle the youngest at sixteen. Luke had graduated from Glasgow in prelaw and was attending Edinburgh’s law school after the summer. He’d decided to come back home because his Portuguese boyfriend Afonso was attending the same law school at Edinburgh and Luke didn’t want to be without him. They’d been together since freshman year at Glasgow and were madly in love.
Luke was big into his designer clothing, and I often used my Pennington’s discount for him. If the party was for anyone else, I’d possibly make my excuses, but I loved Luke, and he deserved to be celebrated for his hard work.
Joss opened the door and pulled me into a hug. “Yourdad and Grace are running late. Apparently, Lockie wanted to sleep at a friend’s house tonight so they’re dropping him off first.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sometimes I’d like to shake some sense into that kid. He doesn’t know how lucky he is to have a family this big who want to spend time with him.”
She gave me an understanding smile but said, “He’s a teen boy. His family are pretty much furniture at this point. He’ll come around.”
Nodding in agreement, I followed Joss through the huge townhouse to the large kitchen/family room where everyone was already congregated, drinking, snacking, and listening to music as they chatted.
