“Yeah, well, we were both shocked.” I sighed. “Because I didn’t do it.”
“So, then who?” she said and we just stared at each other in silence. I felt my stomach twisting in shame as I realized that there really could only be one other person who had hired Troy. Someone who was most probably laughing at me right now for pretending that Troy and I were something that we weren’t. “Oh boy,” Sally said, her brown eyes looking shocked. “Not TJ?”
“Who else could it be?” I groaned. “No one else knows about him because he didn’t really exist.”
“Wow,” Sally said, her lips twisting up as she gazed at me. “What’s his game?”
“What do you mean?” I frowned.
“I mean, why did he hire Troy? And why did he bring Barbie? And why is he hitting on you and trying to get you into bed?”
“Maybe he’s on some weird power trip and doesn’t want Cody to know.”
“Hmm.” Sally frowned as I said Cody’s name again. “I guess. I mean, are we sure Cody doesn’t know? I mean, why would he sleep with Barbie if he thought she was TJ’s girl?”
“Yeah, that I don’t know.” I shook my head. “But one thing I do know is that Cody would not be cool with TJ going down on me and fingering me in the lake.”
“I wish Cody would finger me in the lake,” Sally said and plopped down on the bed. “Sorry.” She made a face at me as I shook my head in disgust. “I know he’s your brother, but gosh darn it, I want him so badly. I don’t understand why he won’t make a move on me.”
“Do you even want him now knowing he’s been with skanky?”
“Would you still want TJ if you found out he’d been with skanky?” she asked poignantly.
“Maybe he has already,” I said, feeling sick to my stomach just thinking about it. “Do you think he has?”
“Honestly?” Sally asked as she gazed up at me.
“Yeah, honestly.”
“No.” She shook her head. “That skank only wishes that TJ would have slept with her.”
“You really think so?”
“Yeah.” She sighed deeply. “He has standards, unlike your jerk of a brother.”
“He is a jerk.” I nodded. “Wait until I tell Nonno about what he did.”
“You’re going to tell, Nonno?” Sally said in surprise. “You talk to him about sex stuff?”
“It’s not my sex stuff.” I laughed. “And yes, I tell him everything. He’s my best friend, aside from you.”
“Do you want to call him now?” she asked, a dim smile on her face.
“You want me to?”
“I think we could both use some advice from him right now.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “That’s true.” I groaned. “Wait until he hears this.” I grabbed my phone from my pocket and pressed the buttons to call his number. I listened impatiently to his phone ringing and a smile burst out on my face as he answered. “Hey, Nonno.”
“How are you, Mi Cara?” he said softly. “Feeling better?”
“Kinda.” I sighed.
“What happened?” He sounded gruff. “Do I need to come to the lake?”
“No, you don’t have to come to the lake, but Sally and I need your advice.”
“Sally is with you?” His voice softened. He loved Sally. He thought she was a good best friend to me. He told me that I was lucky to have her as a best friend and that I should treasure her friendship. I tried to remember his advice when she made me mad.
“Yes, we need your advice, Nonno.” I pressed Speaker on the phone so that Sally could hear what he was saying as well.
“What has happened?” He sounded worried.
“Cody slept with that plastic girl I was telling you about.”
“The one who TJ took with him?” Nonno sounded confused.
“Yes.”
“I thought she was with TJ? Why would she sleep with Cody?”
“You tell us.” I sighed. “Sally is here, Nonno. She is heartbroken. What should she do?”
“Are there really any decisions to be made?” Nonno said softly and I knew what he was saying, but it was not something I wanted to say to Sally myself. How could I be the one to break her heart? How could I tell her that her hopes and dreams were wasted on my brother? He was the definition of a playboy. He was the sort of guy who I’d never be friends with if he weren’t in my family.
“Do you think he likes me, Nonno?” Sally asked, her voice weak as she spoke. I couldn’t look at her then. My normally confident friend was so worried and hopeful at the same time. I didn’t know what she expected Nonno to say. I didn’t know what I expected Nonno to say.
“Sally, my dear. Love is an emotion that is overpowering in its simplicity,” Nonno said softly. “Until the heart is ready to accept that someone else is in charge of their life and soul, one will never be ready to settle down.”
“So you’re saying Cody isn’t ready to accept love?” Sally said, sighing deeply.
“Cody isn’t ready to tie his shoelaces,” Nonno said lightly, and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. I was pleased to see that Sally had started laughing as well.