Page 110 of The Game Plan

“Good luck, man.”

I’ll probably need it. I hang up and head into the house.

Fiona

For the most part, I avoid the phone. I answer Violet’s call because I know she won’t give up until we talk, and it’s rudeto leave her worried.

“I am going to fucking rip this fucking company wide-open,” she promises, her voice shooting through the phone like streetjustice.

“No, you aren’t,” I tell her sternly. “I won’t have you risking jail time for me. Revenge doesn’t get my pride back.”

“It’s a start.”

“No, Violet. No,” I repeat again because I need her to hear me. “Promise me you won’t touch them. I’ll just worry and be upset if I think you’re breaking the law.”

She huffs, loud and sharp. “Okay. Fine. But I have to do something.” I can hear her nails clack on her desk. “I know! I’msending you a kickass bag.”

“A bag?”

“A new handbag always makes me feel better. Oh, Prada has the cutest little turquoise clutch. I’m sending you that. My cousinworks at Vogue. She can get anything.”

We chat for a while, but it exhausts me. I beg off by saying Ethan is home. A lie.

But it sounds better than telling her I just don’t have it in me to talk anymore.

A text follows a short time later, one that I can’t ignore. It’s from my old coworker Alice.

AliceW:Thought this might cheer you up. Elena’s out. Felix gave her the boot this morning.

Me:Get the Papa Smurf out! Why?

AliceW:Apparently her designs for Cecelia Robertson’s apartment ended up being an exact copy of Janice Mark’s new penthouse. Ceceliawas humiliated. Which means Felix was too. He’s in the shit now.

I blink at the phone, my mouth hanging open. Holy fuck. Elena used the designs anyway. I’d told her they were bad. Then again,I hadn’t exactly explained why they were bad. Maybe she took my words to mean bad quality.

I wait for the guilt to hit, but it doesn’t come. I can onlyshake my head. Part of me hopes she’s learned her lesson. The other half of me doesn’t give a good ripe grape what happens to her. Once a thief always a thief, I guess.

I answer Alice.

Me:I am agog.

AliceW:Take care of yourself, kid. We (and by that I mean all of us lowly workers) are giving Bloom the finger on your behalf.

Me:Thx. Give everyone (and by that I mean all of you lowly workers) a big hug.

After that revelation, I drift off for a while. All I want to do is sleep, hide under the soft protection of the covers, andI know it isn’t healthy. I know this, and yet I can’t stop doing it. I’ve pushed Ethan away, ignoring the pain in his eyes.Ignoring everything, even the thoughts in my head.

My eyes are gritty from too much crying, and my skin feels swollen, as if I’ll soon split down the middle. I know I’m beingmaudlin and dramatic. I can’t keep on like this. So I call my mother.

Even as the line rings, I sweat and wonder why I had to turn to Mom. She answers before I can gather the courage to hang up.

“Fiona, darling girl,” she says by way of greeting.

“Hey, Mom.” My voice wobbles, and my eyes smart.

“I was going to call to tell you I’ve booked a flight to see you.”

I clutch my phone. “No. Don’t do that. Please.” I suck in a breath. “It’s harder when I have to face you guys.”