“Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. She asked me to pull them, I pull them. Not the point! Why the hell did you ghost Abby?”
Tink rolled back to his desk. “Not really any of your business, Ange.”
“Bullshit. She’s nice, Tink. And pretty. And smart.”
“And a single mom.”
“So?”
“So, I don’t get involved with single moms.”
“Wow.” She dropped her hands from her hips. “You are the last person I expected to hear such a judgmental and misogynistic comment from. Turner? Sure. Jayne? Maybe. You?” She shook her head. “I’m really disappointed in you, Christian.”
She turned and walked away. Unfortunately, she didn’t take the shit ton of guilt she’d dumped on him with her.
Trying to focus on the security plan was useless—he couldn’t concentrate for shit. He kept picturing Abby’s face the last time he’d seen her, but now Angie added a voiceover in his head saying I’m so disappointed in you.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like kids. He’d seen the heartbreak on too many little faces when they’d realized an adult they’d trusted had betrayed them. Too many little hearts hardened too soon.
As much as the disappointment from Angie and Abby stung, seeing that look on the face of a little kid would destroy him. He never wanted to be in another position where he let someone down and ruined their life.
It was useless. He flung the pen he was holding onto his desk and leaned back. The security plan could wait till Monday. Going home was useless, and he had no interest in going for a ride. He’d go down to the gym and blow off some steam.
His phone rang and Abby’s name appeared on the screen.
“Angela,” he hollered. “Is this you?”
“Is what me?”
“Are you calling me pretending to be Abby?”
“Why would I do that?” Her voice was getting closer.
“Because you’re a busybody.”
“But I’m not a sadist,” she said as she rounded the corner of his cubicle.
She didn’t say she couldn’t do something like that. He answered the call. “Abby?”
“Oh. Hi. I was getting ready to hang up.”
He motioned for Angie to go away. She crossed her arms and gave him her most mulish look.
He rolled his eyes. “Hi. I’m sorry I haven’t called, it’s been busy at work.”
It was a lame excuse, and he knew it. So did Angie, judging by the look on her face.
“Sure. Of course.” Abby didn’t sound like she believed him either. “I’m calling to see if you have Katherine’s number.”
“Katherine McComb?” he asked.
“I don’t know her last name. Lindsey introduced us at the party. She said Katherine is on the board of VACA. I need to ask her for advice. Lindsey’s out of town and not answering her phone, and Naomi doesn’t know her.”
Meaning the only reason she called him was because she had no choice. It shouldn’t have felt like a gut punch, but it did.
“Or if you can give me Angie’s number, I’ll call her and see if she has it,” Abby said.
