"Yes. Iknowit's almost three in the morning. But you were asleep, so what does it matter?" He hesitated. "Yeah…well…maybeI wanted to surprise you."
Yeah, right.
No doubt, shewouldbe surprised to find him haunting the business of his ex.
After another pause, he gave a nervous laugh. "Well, uh, no actually. Because nothing's open." Another pause. "Yeah, well I didn't know that when I left, did I?" A moment later, he gave a vigorous nod, as if the caller could actually see it, and began walking away so fast, you'd think his pants had caught fire.
Watching, I gave a slow shake of my head. I didn't know Maisie. But I knew one thing for damn sure.She was better off without him.
I was still watching when I felt my own phone buzz in my pocket. When I pulled it out to check, I almost did a double-take.
Maddox? Already?
47
The Borrowing Bandit Strikes Again
Tessa
My fingers flexed around the phone. "Delaney? So you saw her?"
My mom laughed like I'd just said something ridiculous. "Oh, please. You know how impetuous she is. She's probably off in Bora Bora chasing some new fad."
I felt my jaw clench.Right.
As opposed to Mom, who was off in Paris, chasing a new purse, along with shoes and dresses to match.
But that was beside the point. "But you just said she gave you the money."
"Nooooo," my mom said, drawing out the word like she was speaking to a toddler. "I said, I got it from her."
"But that's the same thing," I protested.
"Not if you have a joint account."
My insides did a silent nosedive. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you remember, don't you? I set up those accounts when you were in grade school – one for you and one for Delaney."
Of course I remembered.As I waited for her to continue, I blinked long and hard as I prayed for the best.
As a kid, that account had been where I'd stored any cash I received as gifts along with the odd windfall, like that time I spent a weekend watching Aunt Josephine's poodle. Mom had set up both accounts – mineandDelaney's – jointly under her name, too.
When we were kids, the arrangement had made sense. But now that we were adults, it suddenly seemed like a terrible idea – and not because of our ages. Rather, it was because back in grade school, Mom had been swimming in money of her own.
Now, she was drowning in debt and reaching for any lifeline possible – except apparentlyherlifeline led to where?
Paris.
Suddenly, I felt like screaming. But I didn't. I couldn't. Because for one thing, Maisie was sleeping just up those stairs, and the last thing I wanted was to wake her.
Looking to get some distance just in case Ididscream, I stalked into the kitchen, where the first thing I saw was that ridiculous box of raisin pastries that I never delivered.
But I should've.
Now, as I stared at the box, I couldn't help but wonder if my mom and I weren't so different.
I'd been paid a hundred dollars to deliver a simple box.
