do something because I’m about to fall off.”
Maisy cracks one hazel eye open, squinting at me. “Demon.”
“Maise.” I laugh as she burrows further under the covers.
“The sugar coma I’m coming off of might be the end of me. We had a good run, bestie.” She shuffles over, reaching out blindly to drag me closer. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ll be okay, I think. Thank you.” I massage my forehead. “It was a lot on top of an already emotional state of mind.”
Maisy hums, hugging me. “Do you still want to go to the holiday market? Instead we could do a face mask spa day. Meditate it out? Or do I need to pull out the big guns with goat yoga?”
A sleep-tinged, husky chuckle rolls out of me. “Actually, I think I’m going to shower and head next door. I want to see if Connor is home before we go to the holiday market.”
“Mind, body, and spirit self-care bonding with a friend passed over for the power of a good dicking,” Maisy teases, pinching my sides where I’m ticklish.
I flail in my attempt to escape. “Maise, no!” I wail, clawing my way to freedom while she tortures me with precise attacks. “God, you’re the worst! You know it’s not like that!”
Laughing, she sits back against my headboard. “I know. The vagina needs its own worship to achieve the zen of self-care, too.”
“Oh my god, you’re such a weirdo.” I flop on my back, head dangling off the bed. “Love you.”
“Love you back,” she sings. “We’ll meet up later by the entrance to the bazaar?”
“Of course.”
“Sweet. Dibs on the shower first.”
“Go ahead. I’ll take one later.
As Maisy heads for the bathroom, I try messaging Connor again.
Thea: Are you around?
No response comes by the time she’s done.
An hour later, I’m standing outside Connor’s house after lunch time. I don’t know what I expected when I knocked on the door, but it wasn’t Mrs. Bishop answering instead of him. She’s dressed down, rather than the power suits I typically see her in. Maybe she has off from city council duties today.
“Oh. Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt your day, Mrs. Bishop.”
Mrs. Bishop leans against the door frame, rather than welcoming me inside. “Vivian, please. What is it?”
“Is Connor home?”
She sweeps her gaze over me, pursing her lips. It’s the most expressive reaction I’ve witnessed since that night in the coat closet at the benefit dinner.
“Come inside.” Without waiting, Vivian turns and walks deeper in the house.
I follow, unable to shake the uneasiness clinging to me. “Is he here, or…?”
“No. Left early and wouldn’t say where he was going.” She stops and turns on her heel when we reach the kitchen. “You can wait here for him. Would you like some tea?”
“Okay.” I take a tentative seat at the island. “Thank you.”
She smiles without moving the upper half of her face. It’s disconcerting. “Be right back.”
I’m not waiting long before she returns with a manila folder. She must be working from home. She paces on the other side of the island.
“Sorry again for interrupting.” I gesture at the folder she’s flipping through. “I haven’t heard from Connor in a few days, so I was worried and wanted to stop by to see if he wanted to go to the holiday market downtown.”
Vivian lifts a brow with her attention on the contents in the folder, but doesn’t answer.
“I’m going to make you an offer,” she announces after a stretch of awkward silence.
“I’m sorry?” I lick my lips nervously.
Snapping the folder shut, she plays with it as she studies me with a tight expression. “You’ve worn out your usefulness for the campaign’s family-centered message. Leave my son. Stop seeing him. Don’t call or text him.”
“What?” The air sucks from the room as I grip the edge of the counter. “Why would I do that? Connor and I—” I close my mouth. It sounds stupid and cliche saying we love each other to his mom while she’s trying to drive me away. “I won’t do it.”
She sighs like I’m a big inconvenience. “How much do you want?”
“You can’t pay me to stop dating Connor.” I gape at her. “That’s horrible.”
Vivian coos at me, the sound derisive. “That’s how the world works, darling.”
I straighten my spine. “No thanks. No matter how much you try to bribe me with, I wouldn’t do that to him. I don’t like lying.”
“Well, aren’t you good at playing wholesome?”
“Playing?”
I’m about to jump up from the stool when she smirks. “Connor doesn’t want or need you.