“Tomorrow morning around 10. Where does he live?”
“Not far. He’s on Lake Shore Drive. I’ll let him know that you’re coming by.”
“Thank you, Governor.”
“Bella, please call meVictor. We should be past formalities by this point.”
Bella nodded in agreement and lifted the glass to her lips. Her plan was to knock back the potent brown liquid, but she was starting to feel the effects of the first drink. So, she sipped instead.
Victor walked over to the sofa and kissed Taylor’s forehead. “I’m gonna leave you ladies to it. I have some work to do.”
Taylor watched Victor with loving eyes as he left the room. Once they were alone, she turned to Bella and asked, “What is your deal?”
“What?”
“Girl, as soon as I mentioned Lucas, you got mad tense. What did that man do to you?”
Bella grimaced. “He didn’t do anything to me. I don’t even know the man.”
“Come on, bitch. Stop playing with me.”
“Ugh! Taylor, please, can we just drink and stop talking about your brother-in-law. I’m not interested in him or any other man right now. I got too much on my plate.”
Taylor glowered at Bella and let out an irritated huff. “You know what, Bella? I’m tired of this shit!” Taylor exclaimed.
Bella squinted at her friend, trying desperately to figure out why Taylor’s demeanor had changed all of a sudden.
“What are you talking about? Tired of what shit?” When Taylor shook her head without responding, Bella pushed. “What shit, Taylor?”
“After all of these years, you have been the most closed-off friend that I’ve ever had. I have never met a person who barricades their feelings like you do.”
“Taylor, what are you talking about?” Bella asked even though she knew exactly what Taylor was talking about.
Undoubtedly, agitated, Taylor rolled her eyes. “Bella, stop!” she snapped.
Bella inhaled a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa. Taylor was right. She was closed off. There were so many things that Bella didn’t share with her friend. It wasn’t because she didn’t trust her. If she had to admit it, Bella was simply embarrassed. She hadn’t made the best choices in her life.
“And the fucked up thing is, you expect me to open up to you.”
“I’m sorry,” Bella apologized. “I know that I haven’t exactly been an open book.”
“Why? Are we not friends?”
“Of course, we are, Tay. It’s just—”
“What? It’s just what?”
Bella closed her eyes tight and inhaled a deep breath. She ran her fingers through her hair and opened her eyes to look at Taylor. “Dean is gay,” she blurted out before she could change her mind.
Taylor’s brows wrinkled with confusion.
“Dean? Your ex-husband, Dean?”
“Yes.”
“Wait. What?”
Taylor was as shocked as Bella expected.
