Not me.
And I was even less happy when Maddox said, "I'll take that as a no."
"What?"
"I asked if it mattered. You said nothing. So I'll take it as a no."
"It might not matter tome," I said. "But it matters to her sister. She deserves an answer."
"Andyouwant to be the one to give it to her."
"Bullshit," I said. "We're not even talking."
He gave me a penetrating look. "But youwantto."
"I never said that."
"You don't have to. I can read it all over your face." He gave a light scoff. "Good thing we're not playing poker. I'd be cleaning you out."
"Fuck poker," I said. "Tell me where she is."
"Sorry, that wasn't part of the deal." He didn't look sorry. He looked almost sympathetic, which somehow made it worse.
I shook my head. "You really are an asshole sometimes, you know that?"
"I do, which is why you called me in the first place." The corner of his mouth lifted. "So hey, you're welcome."
And with that, he pushed off the credenza, straightened his cuffs, and headed for the door like the conversation had officially ended.
Fine.
I didn't want a reason to call Tessa, anyway.
What Iwantedwas to know why I couldn't seem to let her go.
96
Good to Be Bad
Tessa
It took me nearly a week to get ahold of my mom even though I'd been calling her at least twice a day.
And when she finally did answer, she sounded overly relaxed, like she'd just returned from the beach. If this was the case, I didn't even want to know. I was angry enough already.
After getting past the hellos, I cut straight to the chase. "I'm calling about my rent. You know, for my place in Chicago?"
With a tittering little laugh, she said, "Iknowwhere you live. You don't need to explain."
It was funny in a sad, pathetic way. In fact, shedidn'tknow where I lived – not anymore, because I was still here on the island, which was feeling a lot more like home. "Yeah, well, about that—"
"And before you ask, I can't spare anything to help. I just returned from the spa, and it's wiped me clean out."
Oh, please.What she really meant was that she'd wiped Delaney out, blowing money that wasn't even hers on yet another extravagant vacation.
I'd warned Delaney to secure her account, but I'd failed at making amends. Instead, I'd had the dubious delight of telling Maisie that my sister had called, leaving no message, no phone number, and no forwarding address.
I told Mom, "I don't want your money. I just want to know why you told me you paid my rent."
