Page 78 of The Better Bride
“And Norbert is the guy to do that for?”
“Who says I’m doing it for him?”
“Aren’t you?”
How does Brendon have the power to keep catching me off guard like this? I look around the rest of the hotel lobby, wondering where and when Becky, Sammi, and Percy are going to show up and save the day. I need to tell them I’m okay after that Cadillac gunman just tried to kill me.
“Maybe I’m changing for me. Maybe I’m changing my ways so that gunmen in white Cadillacs don’t keep coming to kill me. And maybe I’m changing my ways because I’m tired of waking up in the morning with fucking mysteries to solve.”
Brendon just watches me again, staring at me long and hard. We’ve known each other since college, and he’s always had a radar for my bullshit.
But even he can’t deny that cocaine and hitmen are reason enough to hang up my stilettos and trade them in for some slippers.
Okay, maybe not slippers. More like kitten heels. Or wedge shoes…
“If this is what you really want, Mysti…then, okay.”
“You’ll do it?”
I didn’t realize it would be that easy to convince him.
“I’ll sign the papers, but on one condition.”
Well, there it is. That’s exactly what I was waiting for. Nothing was going to be that simple with Brendon; it never is.
“What’s the catch, Brendon?”
He checks his watch. “Let’s see…it’s two o’clock now…if you can remember how last night ended and still want to divorce me before five o’clock, then I’ll sign the papers. If not, then we’re staying married—and you’ll see that this is the right choice.”
Well, fuck. Shit. Tits.
There’s no more leads on the rest of the mysteries, let alone how the night ended. I’m stuck at square one, and Brendon wants me to finish the whole game before five?
“Mysti May! Brendon!”
Becky calls our names as the girls burst through the doors of the lobby, quickly coming over to us.
“Well, what do you say, Mysti?”
“That’s a really shitty deal, Brendon.”
“Is that a no?”
I shake my head and stick out my hand for him to shake. I don’t have any other choice. Brendon won’t sign divorce papers any other way.
“No, you’re on, Brendon. I hope you’ve got a pen ready.”
Brendon takes my hand and shakes it, but his face turns from a cocky smile to something darker. He didn’t expect me to answer like that.
But I’ve got to prove him wrong now. Maybe in another life, we could have been married… but not this one.
As the girls come closer, Brendon waves one hand and storms off. He mumbles something like, “See you ladies later” but is out the door before anyone can reply.
“Is everything alright?” Sammi asks as she puts her arm around my shoulder.
“Yeah, fine, are you guys okay?”
“We’re fine. It seemed like the gunman was only interested in you. What the fuck happened last night?”
“That’s what we need to find out.”
“So, you’re not bored of it?” Becky asks, almost hopeful.
“There’s no rest for the wicked,” I shrug, forcing a half smile. “The good news is that I’ve solved the source of the dentures.”
“That means there are only three left to solve!” Becky says enthusiastically.
“Four,” I remind them all, looking at the clock on the wall above the welcome desk. “We also need to figure out who wants me dead.”