Page 151 of Wardrobe Malfunction

“I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”

“Uh-huh. Of course you’re not.”

Silence.

“I saw Charly.”

My eyes snap up to hers. “You didn’t give her a hard time, did you? Because you don’t know the full story.”

A smile creeps onto her lips, but her eyes frown at me. “Of course I didn’t give her a hard time. What do you take me for?”

“Protective. Like a guard dog, only Chihuahua-sized.”

She laughs. “No, I talked to her. Invited her in the house. Gave her some piña colada.”

“She’s still here?” I tense.

“No. She left a little while ago. Called a cab.”

Well, at least I know she got off safely. I don’t need to call her now.

I glance down at my phone.

“Was she okay?” I ask.

“Do you care?”

“No.” Yes.

“Then, why ask?”

“Because you drummed good manners into me while I was growing up.”

“Good to know you listened. And you can listen to me now again.”

“Please, Gran.” I sigh. “I’m not in the mood right now.” I flop back against the sofa, covering my face with my hands. “And you don’t know the full story, so you can’t pass comment on it.”

“Charly told me.”

I drop my hands from my face and sit up. “She told you what?” I ask carefully.

“Everything. About her marrying that gay Canadian friend of hers to get him a green card.”

She told my gran.

“Gran, you can’t tell anyone. It would get her in serious trouble if the authorities found out. She’d go to jail.”

“Good Lord, boy, I’m not dumb. Of course I know she’d go to jail. You, on the other hand, are looking pretty dumb to me right now.”

“Jesus, Gran. Kick a guy while he’s down, why don’t you?”

Even though she’s not wrong. I do look like a dumb fuck. First, Piper and Cain. Now, Charly.

“Do you know what your problem is, Vaughn?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“You care too much about what people think of you. You never used to, but when you got out there in Hollywood, it changed you.”