“No, nothing happened, but I know Mad is sick of her freezing him out. According to Coop, who heard it from Beck, who heard it from Sway, they had it out in the parking lot this afternoon. I don’t know much after that. Axel doesn’t know what happened because he took the afternoon off to keep Nate so I could get some work done. I called her and she sounded fine, but she says she wants to stay in tonight.” Izzy finishes speaking and turns to walk inside.
“That’s it? You just let her off the hook with some lame excuse? You guys know her; if something’s happened, she’s hurting.”
“Meli, there isn’t anything we can do. She has to realize on her own that he isn’t going to come around. I told her I would stop by before I went home. She needs this time.” I look at Dee as if she has lost her damn mind. The last person that should give Emmy any sort of relationship advice is Dee. Love her, but damn she is just as screwed up.
“Really, Dee? Is that the path you decided to use between you and Beck?” She flinches and I instantly regret my jab. “I’m sorry, Dee, that wasn’t cool. I’ve got some shit on my mind and I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
“It’s okay. Really, I know y’all don’t understand where I am with Beck because I have never told you. I just know what it’s like to want the impossible, okay. Give her some time.” She gives me a weak smile before turning and walking over to Izzy, who is impatiently waiting to get inside. For such a small thing, she puts away BBQ like a grown man.
*
We have been enjoying our dinner for a while and discussing everything that has been going on since our last get together. We try to make girls night at least once a week but because of Nate’s being sick last week and Dee having to go up to North Carolina to deal with something at her other office, it has just been me and Emmy.
“What’s going on up at the other branch? You seem to be doing bi-weekly trips these days.” From my understanding, she has the other branch of her insurance company so fine-tuned that she could disappear for a year and it will be fine. Even Greg says that he is impressed with the crew she has running it.
She sighs deeply and looks around. “Do not tell the boys okay? I don’t want them dealing with it until I know more. There are some inconsistencies in the books. Payments coming in on big policies but the records are all over the place and it looks like there are some funds that are missing. I’m taking care of it. I just don’t want the guys going in, guns blazing, and causing more trouble than necessary.”
“Um, Dee, I hate to point out the obvious but how exactly are you going to take care of this without one of them catching wind? You know they wouldn’t do anything without asking first.” Izzy knows them better than I do, but even I think she is full of shit. If they know that one of ‘their’ girls is in trouble they will move heaven and earth to fix the problem. I decide it was wiser to keep my mouth shut at this point and watch them hash this shit.
“I have it under control, Izzy. Once I figure out what’s going on, I will let them know and they can help me figure out where to go from there. I don’t want this made into a big deal. I could lose clients if this got out.”
“Not to point out the obvious,” I interrupt, “but isn’t Maddox like computer geek to the stars? He could probably hack into the servers up there and figure out the trail before you even had time to fly up there. Why not let him in and get it done quick?”
“That’s not a bad idea, Dee.” Izzy chimes in.
“No. You know he might be all silently supportive of you Izzy, but if he knows there is trouble, he won’t keep his mouth shut.”
“I think you’re wrong, but then again, you know them better than I do. I’m going to run to the restroom and hit up the bar for a refill; y’all want something other than beer?” I get up from the table and let them have a moment to hash it out. Izzy can get through to her better than I can.
Maybe if I hadn’t been running through all the things that might be wrong with Dee and her company, or between Emmy and Maddox, or what is wrong with Greg, I might have noticed the trap I was walking straight into. I take two steps into the bathroom and there she is. Legs braced apart and arms folded over her ridiculously large tits, she has what I assume is a scowl on her Botox face.
“Jesus, what do you want? You do realize you’re breaking your restraining order right?” I ignore her and continue into the stall. When I finish up, she is still standing there in the same position. Hard to tell if she is glaring at me or if her face is frozen. “What?! You really don’t want to piss me off tonight Mandy, like really do not want to.”
“Where is your boyfriend tonight?” God, even her voice makes me want to poke my ears with knives.
“Where my man is definitely isn’t any of your business. How about you tell me what this shit is about so I can get back to enjoying my evening and get back to MY man.”
“You really are a stupid bitch.” She throws her head back and laughs. Sounds like an evil little troll.