“He just left me in the car all day yesterday while he went to appointment after appointment. I kinda felt like a neglected dog.”
“Why didn’t he take you with him?”
“I mean, some of them were private—like his NA meeting, and I get it. But then at others, his assistant went inside with him. And I’m totally getting mean girl vibes from her by the way. Nothing I can really put my finger on; she’s just…cold, I guess. But I would’ve liked to have been the one who helped him get through this horrible ordeal. You know? I mean, isn’t that what marriage is supposed to be about?”
“It is to people who give a shit. But you’re in Hollywood, honey. Actors and musicians are a different breed. They don’t think like you or me.”
I sighed and fell back onto the bed. “Yeah, this is exactly why I didn’t tell you before the wedding.”
“Because you didn’t want me to save you from the mistake you knew you were making?”
“Maybe…” I rubbed at my tired eyes with my free hand. “Probably.”
“Is this a bad time to ask you to introduce me to Leif Eccles? I’ve had a crush on him for freaking ever.”
“I remember the posters on your bedroom walls in high school. Which made meeting him last night totally weird, by the way.” I laughed weakly. “Yeah, no. That’s not ever happening. Pretty sure it would unleash a power that would undo the space-time continuum or something. Mal has some issues with Leif as it is. We don’t need to add his breaking your heart to the list.”
“What do you mean? Do they not get along?”
I hesitated. Which was rare. I always told Paigeeverything. But this info—Leif maybe going solo and Mal’s feelings on it—felt deeply private. And like it would be a betrayal to my husband to tell anyone else.
I’d never chosen a guy over my bestie. Ever. We were ride or die as long as I’d known her.
But now Iwaschoosing a guy over her.
“Saylor? You still there? You okay?”
“Yeah, I just…I can’t really talk about that.”
“Really? With me?” Paige asked, clearly offended. “You know I wouldn’t run to the tabs or whatever you’re worried about. I wouldn’t betray you like that.”
“And I shouldn’t betray Mal’s confidence.”
Stunned silence met my confession. Followed by Paige’s softly whispered, “So you really love him then.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” I sighed again as a sense of peace settled in my heart.
I loved Malcolm Holt.
“I’d like to meet him. Once you guys are through all the craziness of the next few days. But I think I need to meet the guy who makes my bestie glow over the phone like this. Fuck the space-time continuum.”
I laughed. “For the record, it would only undo the space-time continuum if you got with Leif. I think we’re safe if you meet my husband.”
Paige laughed with me. “Gotta say, it’s wild to me that we’re still using that word given all that’s happened. How’s the eye? I couldn’t even tell in the pics I saw onthe Babblerthat you had a shiner.”
“It’s better. All the color is gone. Almost like it never happened, but for the horrible memory.”
“Gotta say, it sounds like you definitely traded up, even with the selfish tendencies.”
“I definitely did.”
I then proceeded to tell Paige all the ways and reasons I loved Malcolm Holt.
I did not however tell her that I sometimes called him Daddy.
Some things had to stay between me and Mal.
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