“No, no, just a quick chat.”
“Not a problem, Mom, I’ll come right over.”
“Stone, you don’t have to do that!” Mom exclaimed as Heather’s eyes narrowed.
“See you soon, Mom,” I replied and cut the call.
“You’re leaving me? To go visit your mom?” Heather snapped, and I sensed she was insulted. Who was I to walk out on all things Heather?
“She needs me.”
“Well, I didn’t realise you were such a mommy’s boy,” Heather sneered.
“My mom’s dying, bitch, something you might have learned if you’d shut your mouth for more than two seconds,” I snarled. A lie, I know, but Heather deserved it. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t flinch but stood up.
“Well, that means your time won’t be spent on me, and that’s unacceptable,” Heather declared and walked off. I sat there stunned as quiet laughter came from a table behind me. I twisted and saw Banshee and Sallie-Anne sitting there.
“Holy crap, she was a piece of shit,” Sallie-Anne stated and laughed again.
“Dude, you picked a wrong-un there,” Shee agreed.
“Never saw that coming!” I admitted, beckoning the waiter.
“Is Edie ill?” Sallie-Anne asked as worry creased her brow.
“No. Mom’s perfectly fine. That was a lie to determine if Heather had any human decency. Guess not,” I said, and they both laughed.
“Harlequin, I can’t believeHeathersaid it was unacceptable you wouldn’t spend all your time worshipping at her feet.” Sallie-Anne chuckled.
I asked the waiter for the bill and shrugged. “Somehow, I think I can live without a Heather.”
Shee burst into laughter again. “Dude, that bitch was a nasty piece of work. Her chatter was starting to rile me.”
“Brother, I tuned it out,” I admitted.
Shee shook his head. “Can’t blame you.”
“I’m off to visit my mom. Have a good night, guys,” I said. I gave the waiter a generous tip as I left. He’d had to suffer Heather’s stupid demands around her food and had truly earned his money. Idiotic woman.
???
“Briar’s coming home,” Mom announced as we ate pizza. The meal at the restaurant hadn’t filled me up. I startled, biting my lip and cursing.
Dad chuckled, and I shook my head.
“Did you say Briar’s returning home?”
“Yup,” Mom said with a grin.
“Is she okay?”
“Seems fine to me, but Briar’s fed up with where she’s working, so she’s going to come home and take on clients,” Dad explained.
“Wow. Okay. I didn’t think she’d leave the city,” I drawled.
Briar was my older sister. She was an accountant and had lived in New York City for the past seven years. She rarely came home, but for Briar to move back, something significant had happened.
I’d call her tonight when I get back to the clubhouse. Although we didn’t see each other much, we called or face timed once a week.
