“Lana?”
“No, it’s me.” I barely choke out the words, my tears hot and stinging.
He sighs. “Pretty Girl, it’s going to be okay.”
I nod then realize he can’t see me. “Yes… I need my power back.”
“Um, yes this is true. I see Lana has started without me. Listen, I’m flying in on Friday, staying until Tuesday.”
“Good,” is all I can utter.
“I have to fly commercial.” The annoyance in his voice is clear.
“Brance, my life is falling apart. Please don’t complain about first class!” I look at the ceiling trying to get control of myself.
He’s silent. I can almost see him pouting as I try to take a small sip of coffee. “I’m getting a new phone.” My voice is shaky at best.
“Good, that’s a good first step and when I get there, Lana and I will have you wondering why you ever shed a tear for that arrogant prick.”
I start crying again. Did he have to mention him? “He’s my soul mate, Brance, and now he’s gone. I’ve lost my soul!” I clap my hand over my mouth, trying not to completely lose it again.
“Goddamn it, Tess, he is a domineering, spoiled fuck! Can’t you look at this as maybe a blessing in disguise?”
“No, he’s mine!” Yet he isn’t anymore. He could be sleeping, kissing, touching another girl as I sit here. A torturous vision of Reed doing all those things almost makes me lean over the sink and vomit.
“Tess? You still there?”
Clutching the phone so tightly my fingers are numb, I answer, “Brance, you have to find out what’s going on. You have to spy. I need to know everything Reed is doing.”
Jesus, I sound like a lunatic. But I don’t care. This is what I’ve become. If he has moved on, I need to know. “Please,” I beg, knowing I sound pathetic.
“Don’t ask this of me. I want to cut off his dick—not spy!” That makes me giggle. Unfortunately it turns into sobbing.
“Don’t cry, Tess. You’re killing me. He’s not worth this fucking agony.”
“Please, Brance… I need to know.”
“Fine,” he snaps. “Put Lana on. I’ll see you in a week.”
“You will? You will spy for me?”
“Jesus, Tess, don’t make me repeat it.”
If I had any pride left, I would try to pretend. But I’m a shell of my former self. And having Brance spy makes me feel better.
“Love you, Brance.”
“Love you too, Pretty Girl.”
I put the phone in Lana’s outstretched hand. She spins on her heels and walks into another room.
Taking a deep breath, I pour out my cold coffee and get myself a fresh one. I fish around for the Advil, locating it behind the sugar. I take three, wondering if I should take a Valium too. Lana walks back into the kitchen, eyeing me as if I’m an unknown species.
“So, first stop, phone. Then lunch, then shopping?” She claps her hands.
I snort. “Lana, I love you, and I appreciate everything you have done for me. But there is no way I’m leaving the flat today,” I say, pulling my wet hair on top of my head in a messy bun.
She looks at me from top to bottom. “You’re right.”
Surprised, I drop my hands.
She smiles. “First phone, then spa, then lunch or dinner depending on how much time we need to put you back together.”
Sighing, I’m relieved. The thought of letting someone else make all my decisions always appeals to me, especially today.
“Finish your coffee. I’ll get us appointments. Meet you in ten.”
I shake my head at her. “Whatever. I don’t have the energy to fight you.”
“I know.” She gives me a sassy look.
I can’t help but admire slash be jealous of Lana. From the moment my dad introduced us, she seemed more like a sister than my dad’s girlfriend. I remember being so angry at my father that horrible day. And completely dumbfounded at Svetlana. She was cooking stir fry in her five-inch heels and wearing Versace. I wanted to hate her; after all, she should be my enemy. But she smiled at my father with true affection, then turned the full force of herself on me. Her charm and strength are like catnip to a cat. With her height and killer legs, she’s everything my mother dreamed of being. Not to mention she is a natural blonde and stick skinny. Sure, she pumps up her lips, and her breasts are fake, but she wears it well. Everything about Lana screams classy. She’s my best friend—I mean best girlfriend. Brance will always hold the spot as true bestie. I don’t know how I would have survived the last year and a half without her.
Apparently, Svetlana feels the same way about me. She is my biggest advocate with everyone, including my dad. It doesn’t matter that we came from completely different worlds. She’s the first to own her past. Not embarrassed of it at all. Her parents are dirt poor from Moscow. She used her looks and long legs, to catch the eye of one of the head mafia leaders, becoming his girlfriend at sixteen. Although, she is a little fuzzy on how she ended up with my dad. All she says is she wanted him and so far, she seems to have gotten him.