He didn’t answer, and instead moved his arm so it nearly curved around me.
Malena put her hands on her waist, her game face on.“Mae, I think there’s something you failed to mention to your best friends.”
Marty chuckled nervously and held up his hands.“That’s my cue to go.Great to see you again, Mae.Let me know if you need help.”
“She won’t,” Vance answered for me.
I was too busy preparing for the yelling that was sure to follow from Malena and Keely to take offense at him answering for me.
Keely’s arms were crossed, one eyebrow raised.“Talk.”
“The house is too big for me and the girls.”
“Bullshit,” Malena shot back.
Keely tilted her head, clearly not buying it either.They both knew how much I loved that house.They’d helped me paint the walls and went to countless homeware stores with me to make it perfect.But it was my excuse for anyone who asked why I was selling it.
“Try again.”
I swallowed down the embarrassment and forced the lump in my throat to move before meeting their gazes.I saw hurt, but also pity.And the second was something I never wanted to see.I’d had enough of it ever since Cockalorum had left me.“I can’t afford the mortgage.”
The words came out raspy, my voice cracking at the end.It was hard enough admitting it to my friends, but Vance hearing it made it a million times more humiliating.
Keely’s arms dropped to her sides, her mouth gaping open.“He left you with the mortgage?When he knew you didn’t have a job?”
Biting my lip, I shrugged.“He said since he wasn’t living there anymore, he wasn’t going to pay.”
Vance went still beside me, but his hand remained on my back.
Malena shook her head.“Why didn’t you say something?We’re your friends.We could have helped you.”She reached out and took one of my hands in both of hers.“How much do you owe?”
“Too much.But if I sell, I’ll be able to get out of debt and then give Hank whatever’s left over.”
“Give him what’s left over?”Keely’s voice climbed higher with each word.“He cheated on his wife and left her with a mortgage heknewshe wouldn’t be able to pay.That tells me he didn’t care if his kids would be able to eat or not.And you’re saying you’ll give him the money?”
I hadn’t always been such a doormat.But this was what would keep the peace, so the peace I would keep.“I can’t risk him taking me back to court.I can’t risk him taking the kids away from me.And his name is on the title.”
Malena tightened her hold on my hand.“There’s more to this than you’re telling us.”
Keely held up her hand.“Let’s burn that bridge once we get to it.”I couldn’t help but snort at her craziness.Unperturbed by my amusement of her use of English idioms, she continued.“For now, we need to sort out this housing issue.Then we’ll deal with the reason why Mae is keeping things to herself.”She fixed me with her lawyer glare that could make grown men cry.“And I know you want them with you because you love them, but lots of couples share custody without any issues.So you could do the same.No judge would give him full custody for no reason.”
This wasn’t something I was ready to discuss at a party.And definitely not in front of Vance.“It’s too late to change anything now.The house is being put on the market at the end of next week, and we’re moving into the apartment the weekend after.”
“Apartment?There’s only one apartment complex that I know of in Butler.”Keely’s voice held a hint of suspicion and a whole lot of questions.
I sighed.“The kids love their school and daycarel.I love living close to you guys.And my job is here.It was the only place we could afford in Butler.”
Malena released my hand and cursed up a storm in Spanish.I didn’t need to know the language to understand how upset she was.This was why I didn’t want to have this conversation until I’d moved.They’d try and talk me out of it.
And there was no other option.I’d thought about it nonstop since realizing I was stuck with a mortgage I had no hope of paying.
Keely gritted her teeth.“You can always borrow money until you get back on your feet.You know I won’t miss it.”
“Keely, I love you for offering, but you’re already doing too much.I can’t ask that of you.”
“Bullshit.Of course you can.You should know that we’ll always be there for each other.”She let out a frustrated huff.“I need a drink.”Waving at Malena, she turned on her heels.“You talk some sense into her.I’m only going to start yelling.”
She stalked off, and I deflated.
