“Thank you.” My voice is barely a whisper.
Her eyes reflect my own as she stands and walks over to me. “It might have been my idea, but I didn’t fund it. A friend of mine heard about her situation and knows how hard it is to watch a loved one suffer. They paid for everything—on the one condition of anonymity.”
Who would care enough to help her out? Maybe it’s her mom’s husband, James. They would do this for me, for Stella.
“Oh, and one more thing. I ran into Becca, and we got to talking—and I know you’re still obsessed with her.” She holds her hands up in surrender. “I support you. I do. Even if I think you deserve better than a girl who cheated on you. But that’s your decision, not mine,” she rambles.
I reach out and grab her hand. “Stella, what’s the thing? What about her?”
She perks up. “Oh! Brooke is back in town tomorrow night, and we’re going to that club …” Her eyebrows crease. “Shit, what’s it called? Oh, The Temple Club. We’re going to celebrate everyone being back. I invited Becca to join us, and she asked if she could bring a plus-one. And based on her walking away earlier, I’m assuming that’s not you?”
Okay, Rhett, maybe your plan doesn’t sound so bad after all.
“No, it’s some guy she’s been seeing. Although I’m pretty sure it’s just to make me jealous.”
She squints. “Yeah, because that sounds super healthy.”
I chuckle. “We are each other’s poison and antidote, all mixed into one.”
She rolls her eyes. “So, what is this pawn’s name?”
Searching in my brain for his name, I come up short. Why in the hell can’t I remember it?
A lightbulb goes off. “It’s Aaron, I’m pretty sure. A real douchebag if you ask me.”
I make a mental note to let the guys know I’m going to have to cancel with my teammates for Temple because I’m going with Stella, Becca, and everyone.
FOURTEEN
Becca
Aknock sounds on my office door, but before I get the chance to say,Come in, Sophie is already throwing the door open with some familiar-looking sandals.
“No, you didn’t! Becca!” Her jaw is on the floor, and her head is shaking as she points to her feet.
Deciding to opt with a smart-ass comment, as I usually do, I say, “Ugh, did Keanu not give you the rest?”
Her lips immediately purse, but right at the corners, they tip up ever so slightly. “Becca, the rest is in my car. Seriously, this is too much. This is, like, three months’ salary of what you’re paying me, which is already more than I actually deserve. And you know that!”
I’m only going to say this once: I like Sophie. And I think I might even consider her my friend.
As Sophie’s friend, I need to know she’s not struggling or worrying about where her next meal is coming from. So, I might pay her more than an average assistant—or more than most people make in a year. But that’s not important. It’s really selfish because I’m buying my own peace of mind.
“Becca, come on. We can’t take all this. These, however”—she pivots on her heel—“I might have to keep these. But the rest has to—”
I cut her off. “Stop. I pay you that much because I need to make sure you don’t change jobs. I would hate to have to hire someone else, especially someone just trying to get the job because it’s me. So, if you try to return the gifts—which is quite disrespectful, I might add—I’m going to have to fire you. Because we do not tolerate disrespect here.” I can’t help my smile at the end.
She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. Finally, after a few seconds, she says, “Fine.”
She spins on her gorgeous heeled sandals and struts to the door. As she grabs the handle, she turns and says in a demanding manner, “Becca?”
I lean back in my office chair, crossing my legs. “Yes?”
She smiles. “Thank you. For everything.”
I just smile at her as she walks through the doorframe and closes the door behind her. I wait for my smile to fade, but it sticks on my face for the next five minutes while I read through this morning’s to-do list.
Just then, my phone chimes.
