by Molly Harper, Stephanie Haefner, Liora Blake, Gabra Zackman, Andrea Laurence, Colette Auclair
“Yes. You?”
“Fuck yeah. And not having to hear my little sisters blare their Disney Channel music at nine in the morning was heaven.”
“You have sisters? They must be pretty young if they watch Disney.” Mia thought of Bryn’s kids and the shows they loved the watch.
“Nine and six.”
“Wow, quite a long time in between you and them.”
“Yeah. My mom had me when she was young. Did the single mom thing when my real dad took off. She married Dan when I was eight and two years later, Sasha was born.”
“So, you were ten when she was born?”
“Yep.”
“And she’s nine now?”
He looked at her weird. “Yeah.”
“Sooo, that makes you . . . nineteen?”
“Yeah . . . uh . . . no. Shit.”
“You totally lied about your age on your résumé.”
This was extremely amusing to Mia. She was lying in bed with a half-naked teenager. She’d almost had sex with a teenager. Oh, that sounded bad. At least he was legal.
And the lie didn’t really bother her. Now that was weird. Why did this lie not bother her, but others had? Oliver’s lies had been a big problem. She shook it off.
“Yeah. I’m sorry about the age thing. Do you hate me?”
“No.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek, just because she wanted to and it felt natural. “Want some breakfast?”
“Sure. And then can you drive me home? I promised I’d baby-sit my sisters so my Mom and Dan can go food shopping this afternoon.”
“If you don’t have a way home, how’d you get here?”
“One of the waitresses. I had to give her gas money, but it was cheaper than a cab. Wanna grab breakfast on the way?”
Mia giggled. “Sure.”
AFTER DROPPING Kyle off, Mia was in a damn fine mood. She wanted to hang out with a toddler, so she called her sister. Mia was still kind of pissed about how Riley acted at the party, but she was in such a good mood it no longer fazed her.
“Hey, Riley, how’s it going?”
“Uh, fine. What do you want?”
“Nice way to greet your sister.” Mia laughed.
“What’s got you so cheery?”
“Nothing. Can I take Gianna for the day? I want to spend some time with her.”
“No.”
“What? Why? I though for sure you’d love me to take her and give you a break.”
“Mia, you just don’t get it. Like I have time to get her bathed and dressed and everything. She’s lucky I threw a Pop Tart on a plate for her for breakfast this morning.”
“But it’s already two. Hasn’t she had lunch?”
Silence. “Crap. I didn’t realize it was so late. The day just flies by when you’re all alone with no husband to help you.”
“So let me come over. I can get her in the tub and get her dressed. Maybe I can even take her overnight.”
“Um, no. Don’t come over. And she probably won’t go with you anyway.”
“Why? I’m her aunt.” Tears welled in Mia’s eyes, clouding her vision, and she pulled over for fear of ramming the back of the car in front of her. “She loves me.”
“You know she does, but she just . . . can’t.”
There had to be something else happening here. Mia tried to control her shaky voice. “Riley, please, tell me what’s going on.”
“Listen, I’m not even supposed to be talking to you. I shouldn’t have even picked up. Daddy is livid about your latest stunt.”
Well, that was one way to dry her tears. “Are you kidding me? You’re letting him dictate who you talk to? He’s forbidding you from talking to your own sister?”
“Mia, listen, I don’t exactly agree with him or like it, but Daddy pays Nico’s salary.”
“Is he threatening to fire Nico if you talk to me?”
“No, of course not. But he promised to cut back Nico’s hours if I stopped talking to you. Can you blame me? I need my husband, and if this is the way to get him home with me more, I’ll do it.”
“Wow. Dad sure gets what he wants by using blackmail.”
“It’s not blackmail. He offered me a deal, one I couldn’t pass on. Nico is supposed to be home at five today instead of working till close. That’s really awesome. So there’s no way I was telling Daddy no. And besides, Bryn has kids. Go play with them.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means. You’d rather have Bryn as a sister, so go be with her. She has kids to be your replacement niece and nephew. You don’t need us.”
Mia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you jealous or something?”
“Of Bryn? Hell no. I just know you’d rather be with her than me so I don’t even know why you bothered calling.” Baby Nico started to whimper, his cries escalating fast. “I have to go.”
Riley didn’t give her the chance to say anything more. She left Mia dumbfounded, phone to her ear. She’d never realized how jealous her sister was of her relationship with Bryn. What the hell was she supposed to do about that? Not be close with her best friend since childhood? But to keep her away from the kids, even though their father was pulling the strings on that, was just so wrong.
That was fine. If her family wanted to be jerks, she didn’t need them.
CHAPTER Twenty-Three
Monday morning Mia was in the shop early. She felt good, ready to build on the shop’s recent success. And she had Kyle to thank for her mood. After her phone conversation with her sister, she’d let herself mope around, eating Double Stuf Oreos and watching sappy movies until he’d texted her and asked to come over. Being with Kyle was fun. No one to impress. No one to worry about. A friend like him was exactly what she needed.
“You seem chipper,” Bryn said, walking up to the front counter where Mia had just finished cashing out a customer.
“I am. I had a great weekend.”
“Oh my God. I knew it! You and Oliver! It’s all worked out!” She bounced around and hugged Mia.
“Hold on,” Mia pulled away. “I’m done with Oliver. But I did have a great weekend with someone else.”
“Oh. Really? Who?”
“Just a guy. Don’t worry about it.”
Mia felt bad withholding the information. She tried to walk away, but Bryn was too fast.
“Uh-uh. You’re not leaving until you spill.” She had Mia by the arm. “Who are you screwing?”
“No one.”
“Come on. No one’s this content without orgasms being involved.”
“Actually, I have found it is possible to be with a guy and be completely happy without any kind of sexual activity.”
“You lost me. Who are you hanging out with?”
“Kyle.”
“Kyle? Why does that sound familiar? Where did you meet him?”
“Applebee’s,” Mia tried to say as nonchalantly as possible.
“Wait. No. Not the bartender guy you interviewed.” Bryn exploded with laughter. “The cute guy with the smallish dick?”
“It’s girthy.” She felt the need to defend Kyle. “But it doesn’t matter. We’re just friends.”
“You’re hanging out with our rejected penis?”
“He’s fun and relaxing, and I need that right now.”
“Agreed. But he’s so young. Isn’t he like twenty-something?”
“Do you want the age on his résumé, or the real age?”
Bryn’s eyes bugged. “Please tell me he’s legal.”
“To vote, yes, but not to buy liquor.”
“Mia, you cougar!” Bryn gave a little snarl. “But seriously. Don’t go doing anything stupid.”
“I won’t. Trust me. I just need to have fun right now and forget the last month of my life. And Kyle is real good at making me do that.”
The women went back to work. Mondays were usually slow, so it was a good day to vacuum the floors, dust, do all the menial tasks. Mia decided to yank out the window displ
ay for cleaning. Time to get it ready for summer.
The phone rang and she ran to grab it, since Bryn was busy with a customer. “Thank you for calling Classy ’n’ Sassy. Mia speaking, can I help you?”
“Yes, this is Marjorie Williams from the City Center Women’s Association. I spoke with you about participating in our women’s expo in June.”
“Oh, yes! We’re so excited about doing the expo.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I called to tell you we no longer wish to work with your shop.”
“What? But why?”
“Well, we’ve become aware of the scandal associated with your store and it’s really not an image we want to promote.”
“Scandal? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s all over the Internet. Haven’t you checked your social networking sites today?”
“No. We have someone who does that and she isn’t in yet.”
“Well, I suggest you do. Immediately.”
The line went dead before Mia could ask anything else. She ran to her computer and quickly pulled up one of the sites and logged in. Splattered all over were photos. Naked photos of Logan. In various sexual positions. With another man.
“This is not happening.” Her hands shook as they brought up one of the other sites. More photos. The same sites that two days ago showcased glittering praise were now littered with negative comments. “Bryn! Oh my God! Come here. Quick!”
“Where’s the fire? I’m with a customer.”
Tears in her eyes, Mia spun her computer monitor toward Bryn.
She gasped and her hands immediately covered her mouth. “What is this?”
“I don’t know. How do we get rid of it?”
Bryn fiddled with the keyboard. “I’m not good with this stuff.”
The phone rang again, line one. And then line two.
“You get one in here and I’ll take two in the shop,” Bryn said and dashed out.
Mia tried to compose herself before picking up the phone. “Thank you for calling Classy ’n’ Sassy. Mia speaking, can I help you?”
“Yeah, you can help me by giving me a refund.”
“I’m sorry but all lingerie items are nonreturnable,” Mia stated, praying this was an unrelated call.
“Hmpft. I got one of your new toys. Logan. I don’t want it now. Not after seeing those pictures.”
Mia breathed deep before speaking. “I’m sorry, but all adult toys are also nonrefundable.”
“So I’m out my fifty bucks?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Great. Well, don’t think you’re ever getting another dime of my money.” Click.
This is not happening. Mia held the receiver in her hand, the line dead.
“Mia!” Penny said, appearing in the doorway. “I came as soon as I heard. What are we going to do?”
“Get on here and remove these pictures.”
Mia moved, letting Penny take her chair, and went out to the shop. Bryn had just hung up, but the phones went crazy again.
“What do we do?” Mia asked, hoping Bryn had some amazing solution like she always did.
“I don’t know,” she answered, then reached for the phone. “Thank you for calling Classy ’n’ Sassy. Bryn speaking.”
The door chime sounded and the UPS guy strolled in, dolly full of boxes. Boxes full of more dildos. Dildos that women no longer wanted because the model was caught in some really racy and bizarre positions.
“Where do ya want these?”
OLIVER WAITED until Monday, when he knew his father would be at work. If he’d taken the day off on Friday, there was no way he’d be out Monday, too. Oliver called in sick. He’d probably catch flak for it, but he didn’t care. He needed to see his mother.
Usually he knocked on the door of his parents’ home and waited for the housekeeper to answer, but he had a feeling she’d been ordered to slam the door in his face.
He let himself in. Usually his mother spent her mornings with breakfast and a book. If it was a warm day, she’d eat on the lanai. The sun shone, but there was a chill in the air. He decided to check there first anyway.
Her hair was neatly pinned back, shimmering silver, with a blanket around her shoulders. A plate sat next to her, only a bite having been taken from the wheat toast. The eggs and fruit looked untouched.
“Good morning,” he said, hoping not to startle her.
Ginny looked up from her book and smiled. “Good morning, dear. Come sit.”
“How are you?” he asked as he pulled a padded wrought iron chair.
“I’m okay. The fresh air helps.” She reached and patted his hand. “It helps to see you, too.”
A woman’s voice bellowed from behind. “Oh, no. You can’t be here. Mr. Christensen forbid me to let you in. If he finds out you’re here, he’ll fire me. You need to leave now.”
“Mary, please. I need to speak with my mother.”
“No. Leave now.”
“Mary, dear. My husband will not know of this, so there’s no need to fret. I want to speak with my son and I will. So either you leave and allow us to visit, or I will fire you.”
“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Oliver, can I bring you some coffee?”
“No, thank you.”
Ginny shook her head. “That father of yours.”
“I know he’s just looking out for your health.”
“My health is better when I can speak with my son. I can tell there’s a lot weighing on your mind. Are you ready to explain what you were doing that day?”
“I’m so sorry you had to witness that. I never wanted you to find out that way.”
“I know. Alexiana dragged us there. Insisted we go to a party. If I’d known it was to embarrass you, I wouldn’t have gone.”
“I never loved her,” he admitted, scared for her response.
She stared out at the landscaped yard. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It all happened so fast. The pregnancy and engagement. And I was . . . stuck. I worried about what the confession would do to your health.”
“My boy, you worry too much.”
“I wanted you to be happy, to have something to look forward to.”
She turned to him. “Something to live for?”
“I guess,” he replied, shrugging.
“Don’t you know I live for your happiness? You seemed excited for the baby and wedding, so I was excited.” She covered his hand with hers. “Accidents happen, I understand that, but if Alexiana was not the woman for you, you shouldn’t have promised your life to her, baby or not.”
“I know that now. But it spiraled out of control so fast. And I’m not sure she was even pregnant. I think she might have faked the entire thing.”
Ginny nodded. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it had been her mother’s idea. Quite the manipulator she is. I’ve known her for more than fifty years. She didn’t exactly gain Mr. Ryland’s affections the proper way, either.”
“When I suspected she was lying, I tried to find out for sure, but I made the mistake of telling Alexiana I didn’t love her and was canceling the wedding. Apparently she didn’t like that and took matters into her own hands. That’s how you ended up at the shop that day.”
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And I’m sure she didn’t like that you had found someone else.”
Oliver fought to keep his jaw from falling open. “How did you know?”
“I saw the way you looked at that woman in the store. She was devastated to hear about your engagement. And you hated for her to find out that way. She’s the friend you were helping?”
“Yes. Mia. She’s an amazing woman, and I think I’m in love with her.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“No. It’s not. She hates me for lying to her.”
“Then you’ll have to make it up to her. Show her you are an honorable man.”
“I don’t know if that’s possible.” His gaze dropped to his lap.
“If it’s true love
, you’ll find a way.” She reached for his hand again. “My poor boy. I’m so sorry you felt you had to continue this charade for my benefit. Had I known how unhappy you were, I never would have let it go on. I’ve failed you as a mother by not recognizing your misery.”
“I didn’t care about myself. I wanted to make your last years happy.”
“Your happiness means far more to me. Now go get that girl.”
OLIVER LEFT his mother with renewed excitement. The weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The one that had been there for months, the pressure of keeping all his secrets. With it gone he was free to live his life how he wanted and be happy. With Mia. His mother would love her, just as he did. And his father, well, he could go straight to hell.
Next on his agenda was sweeping Mia off her feet. There was a huge connection between them; she couldn’t deny that. He needed to make her remember it, and forget the bad choices he had made. He had an idea, but getting Mia to go anywhere with him was going to be a challenge. Might have to be a little devious to make this plan work.
He headed into the shop to get his work done, but when he walked through the door, it was filled with shouting women. Bryn was behind the counter on the register and Mia on the phone.
He waded through the crowd and walked up to Bryn, her eyes overflowing with tears. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on,” a woman in line said. “That other model is a pig. And we want our money back.”
“What? There’s got to be some mistake.” He turned to Mia, who had finished on the phone. “What the hell is she talking about?”
“I’ll show you,” she said, eyes matching Bryn’s, red and puffy, like she’d already been crying.
He wanted nothing more than to pull her to him and make it all better. Instead, she showed him her computer.
The shop’s Web site was littered with raunchy photos of Logan and a couple of naked men. Him taking it in the ass and giving it. His mouth wrapped around some guy’s dick. Was Logan gay? Some of the photos showed him wearing the Classy ’n’ Sassy hot pink underwear. Captions on the photos mirrored the obscene images. Who the hell would post these?
“Penny’s been on the computer all day deleting pictures from Friendspace, but someone keeps putting them back up. They hacked into our Web site too. She’s trying to disable the site but she’s having trouble. It’s pointless anyway.” She broke down for what was probably the tenth time that day. “Why would someone do this to us?”