“So that’s…” Tally starts, inspecting the key.
“That’s the key to the bank deposit box your uncle rented for you,” Sloan confirms, but her eyes are on Phyllis. “The money was always intended foryou,Tally.”
Phyllis explodes and stands, walking past us, so we all stand too. I’m happy to see her go, but Sloan groans and lets her head fall back before she yells, “Phyllis, please wait.”
Phyllis stops in her tracks but doesn’t turn, so Sloan walks up to her. “Bob wants you to know that he’s fine now, at peace. You can stop thinking about if you acted too slow when he had theheart attack or if you could have done anything differently. He knows you loved him and did all you could have done.”
The fact that Sloan is doing this for her just shows once more how good of a person she is. I would have just let her go.
But Phyllis turns and points a finger at her. “Who do you think you are?”
Sloan looks perplexed, frowning as she answers, “I’m nobody, really. I just… Bob wanted you to know that.”
“You’re an imposter. Nothing you just said came from Robert. You and Tally knew about the box and just wanted to make me look like a fool!”
“What? No, I—” Sloan starts, but Phyllis pushes her shoulder, making her stumble a step back. I can feel the air shift as Sloan growls out, “Don’t touch me,” while the rest of us rush toward them, and I halt directly behind Sloan.
“Or what? Crazy bitch,” Phyllis spews as she pulls her purse over her shoulder.
Oh, hell no.
“I’ll show you crazy,” Sloan threatens before she launches herself at Phyllis, but my arms come around her waist to hold her back. In a swift move, I turn her around and hoist her over my shoulder while I walk back to the table we just left. “Hunter!”
“I told you, she’s an imposter, and all of this is a fucking farce. If you know what’s good for you, Tallulah, you should fire her and make her leave immediately,” Phyllis spits her venom.
Sloan is furious, punching my back and squirming like crazy, but I have her in a firm grip. “Fucking let me down,” she hisses out.
“Of course,” I murmur, sitting her on a table, but my hand comes down on her shoulder, keeping her there. “Stay,” I tell her, pointing a finger at her like she’s an unruly dog, and she glares at me for it.
“The only one who should leave is you, Phyllis,” Tally tells her in an icy tone.
Phyllis laughs a bitter laugh. “This is a joke, right?”
I can practically hear Sloan’s teeth grind, so I yell to Tim, “Get her out now, or I’ll do it.”
I don’t give a fuck if I have to hoist her out of here like I just did with Sloan, but her landing will not be in the least as gentle.
“Come on, let’s go,” Tim declares, putting a hand on Phyllis’s shoulder and guiding her out of the restaurant. She’s uttering some more curses, but I can’t make them out because Tally comes to stand in front of us, watching Sloan intently.
“I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”
Sloan nods, having visibly cooled down the second Phyllis was out of the room, and I can tell the fire that just burned in her has only left ashes and insecurities in its wake.
How much more until she breaks, thinksfuck this shit, and leaves?
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this in the first place. I for sure shouldn’t have talked to your aunt like that.” Sloan bites on her lip, unable to look Tally or me in the eyes.
I start to stroke her back and feel how she leans into the touch.
Would it be too much to sit down and pull her onto my lap?
“Fuck her,” Tally announces. “I never liked her. Robert was Mom’s brother, and Phyllis is just his wife, who never wanted to have anything to do with us. I see her maybe twice a year, so I’m not mad if she stays away for good now.”
“Tally,” Sloan starts, lifting her gaze, eyes brimming with tears.
I can’t resist and lean down to kiss the top of Sloan’s head. She’s once again been told that she’s not good the way she is, that she’s an imposter,crazy. And here she is, worried sheruined anything for her friend. This woman has such a big heart, and part of it was once mine.
I’m going to do everything I can to get it back.
