Take a Bow (The Perfect Plans Series Book 2) Read Online Free

pushing my defensive buttons.
    “This is one of those times when one needs to be reminded that communication via email can lack…how does one put it? Emotion? Tone? Don’t get me wrong, Abs, I was sincere in my open door policy for my bestie - you can crash at my pad anytime. Mi casa es su casa, sweetie. You know how much I love you, right?”
    I nod my head, fighting back a renewed well of tears. I do know how much she loves me. As much as I love her.
    “Good, because I do. And now that the mushy love shit is out of the way, we can skip the bullshit brigade. Let me begin by correcting any of that lost emotion or mixed signals in my reply,” she pauses to lock our gaze dramatically. “What. The. Fuck. Were. You. Thinking?”
    It’s a question. That’s very clear. An answer, however, she is not waiting for.
    “Aby, I will always, always , have your back. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy. But you spent twelve years, twelve years , fighting your own gut instincts to keep others happy. And I listened, supported, consoled, without opinion or judgment because I. Love. You. But this? This I will not support. Or console. And I most certainly will not withhold my opinion or judgment. You fucked up. Royally, babe.”
    “You weren’t there, Stace! You don’t understand…”
    “Wait. Hold up,” she raises her palm towards me, spanning the room around us dramatically in search of something or someone that isn’t there, before looking back at me sarcastically. “I’m sorry, were you expecting the pity train? Sorry, sweet tits, it derailed at the corner of Suck It Up and Butter Cup.”
    Ouch. That hurt. My mouth drops open, my jaw locking beneath my scrunched brows in shocked awe.
    “Now, what was it you were going to say?” She offers a closed lip smile, suggestively warning me that her zero-tolerance bullshit policy is now in effect.
    “I just needed some time. I didn’t mean to run, Stace. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
    “I get that, babe. I really do. And that’s exactly why I called Alex. He’s coming after you, Aby…”
    I close my eyes at the mention of his name, the memory of his visit like salt in the oozing wounds from the lashing of his wrath.
    “Aby?” she asks, craning her neck towards me. “Please tell me he hasn’t already been here. Aby ?” Flailing her arms in the air, she bolts from her seat, circling the room in a bizarre, inaudible, ritual type chant.
    “Yes,” I manage in a whisper. She doesn’t answer. I’m not even sure she heard me. “He was here. I-I think I’ve lost him…” the event replays torturously in my mind. “I didn’t handle it very well.”
    She stops suddenly, “I’m sorry, what? I couldn’t hear you, I must have rolled my eyes out loud.”
    Her glare isn’t helping me find my words.
    Clasping her palms together at her lips, she inhales a breath of composure before sitting back down beside me. “Okay,” she nods calmly, yet slightly craze-laced, “…just tell me everything that happened.”

    SILENCE IS GOLDEN. Unless it’s at the hands of Stacey Stevenson. In which case it means shit’s about to hit the fan. She hasn’t said a word since I spewed every little detail of Alex’s visit - several moments of it repeatedly at her crazed and demanding request. I’m not sure how much longer she plans to sit here staring at me - her internal struggle of judgment versus quest for composure obvious in her gaze, and bleeding into my already crumbling demeanor - but I’m sure that if she doesn’t say something soon, I’m going to explode, myself. I need help right now. Not a scolding. Whether I deserve one or not.
    “So, let’s recap, shall we? Just so I’m clear. He flew all the way here, and you sent him away?”
    “No…I…not exactly,” I sigh, feeling the numbing walls that I’ve been hiding behind begin to crumble at the hand of her battering.
    “Oh, did I use the wrong words? Let me rephrase. He flew all the way here, and you