“I know,” I agree, even though I know there is more than one way to cheat—not that I think I have, but emotional cheating is still a very real thing.
“Did you have anyone else to cover the bar?”
“Yeah,” I answer. “But there are supposed to be at least three of us on busy nights, and with it being so close to opening, I couldn’t find a replacement for him. So it was just Mel and me all night. It was total chaos.”
“You should fire him, Pres.”
“I know, but?—”
“And break up with him.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry for being so blunt, but that guy is an asshole. You don’t deserve to be treated that way—as a boss or a girlfriend.”
My mouth falls open. “I’m not really sure it’s any of your business, Hollis.”
“I’m not sure it is either, but here we are.”
I attempt to stop it, but the words come out of my mouth before I can catch them. “He’s not an asshole. He just reacted poorly,” I say, coming to Jace’s defense like I always do whenever someone tries to question his place in my life.
“Poorly?” he scoffs. “Pres, he walked out on you. That’s unacceptable.”
“He was upset. Can you blame him? I’m not sure I would have acted much differently if I saw a text on his phone from some random girl.”
There’s a beat of silence. Just enough to make my pulse kick up a notch, and then Hollis says, “Random?”
Dammit. I’d been so focused on defending my boyfriend’s shitty behavior that I’d inadvertently hurt Hollis in the process. “No, sorry. But you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I guess I do fall into the random category of your life.”
“No, Hollis?—”
“Listen, it’s late. You should get some sleep.” I can tell by the tone in his voice that he doesn’t want to talk anymore tonight, so I don’t push it.
“Right, yeah. Of course. I’ll talk to you later?”
But he doesn’t answer. Instead, he just says, “Good night, Pres.”
“Good night, Hollis.”
As I hang up, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve just said goodbye to Hollis Beck for good this time.
Chapter Seven
HOLLIS
BEFORE…
I can’t sleep.
I’ve been staring at the unfamiliar ceiling in this unfamiliar room for hours.
I should be used to this—the unknown. Thanks to my mom, temporary seems to be the only constant in my life. Even though the Creeds have assured me I’m welcome to stay with them for as long as I want, I know this time will be no different.
But it doesn’t stop me from wanting it to be.
After my mom and her boyfriend went to Easter brunch at his parents’ house and left me behind, it became clear I no longer fit into her world or his. Despite the legal ties that bind us together, she was more than willing to pawn me off to the Creeds when they offered to let me stay here instead.
