“Hey, I was confused. I thought maybe Stella could make sense of it.”
“Lucca,” Stella says, her tone sweet, but her expression stern. “Why do you need to know what Maggie’s sister lookslike? Haven’t you tortured that poor woman enough? You cannot go out with her sister.”
I groan. “I am not going out with her sister. I was hoping to see Maggie.Socially. In afriendlymanner. But she won’t bite.”
Stella smirks and Roman outright laughs.
“I just want to be friends.”
“Right,” Stella says. “Let’s say I believe that. Why do you need to know what her sister looks like?”
“I was going to message her on Instagram. Her son invited me over for a meal. I thought maybe I’d set it up through her.”
“Ah. And socialize with Maggie while you’re at it. I see,” Stella says.
“You do? Because I’m still confused. Maggie’s sister’s son invited you over?” Roman’s squinting, like he’s thinking too hard.
I shrug. “It was a month ago, but still an invitation.” I’m over Roman’s betrayal. Maybe Stella will be helpful. “Her name is Lindy McCrae.” But neither of my options say ‘Lindy’ clearly.
“You’re sure?” Stella says.
“Yes. Mostly.” I’m honestly assuming the last name, but it makes sense. “But her face… it’s a blur. What do you think, @linda.rochelle or @belinda.mc?”
“Well, Lindy could be short for ‘Belinda’ and ‘mc’ for her last name. I’d go for Belinda.”
“I kept going back to that one. But I was unsure.”
“Now you’re helping him?” Roman says to his wife.
“Hey,” I say. “You should be the one helping me. I was willing to commit a crime to help you and Stella get together.”
“Not a crime,” Roman says. And sure, maybe Roman wasn’t actually committing a crime when he married Stella—who did, in fact, not need a green card—but he thought he was.And I was right there, his accomplice, helping him along the way.
“I thought you only wanted to be friends with her?” Stella says.
“I do. I’m just saying, Roman owes me. No matter the situation.”
“I don’t owe you.”
“You do,” I say. “Twenty years to life. I kept you out of jail, man.”
“I’m hanging up now,” Roman says.
But Stella moves the phone out of his reach. “Be short. And to the point,” she says. “Make sure Lindy is aware that you aren’t hitting on her! I can proofread for you!”
Roman’s face comes into view once more, and then they’re gone.
It’s after ten, but I type out a message, hoping she’ll see it first thing in the morning. I think, remembering what Stella said. It’s good advice. I don’t want Lindy getting confused. I don’t want her attention. I want Maggie’s.
Wow. I don’t normally have to try so hard to get a woman’s attention.
Me: Hello. Is this Lindy McCrae? Maggie’s sister? I am messaging about Maggie. No other reason.
There. That should be clear enough.
I set my phone on the bedside table and move the fur ball from my stomach to the bed beside me, when my phone pings.
“Already?”
