"It's just not your day is it, honey?" Tyler asked, handing me my phone and taking me out of the daze I was lost in.
I hadn't even seen him show up, but I was quite thankful to have an excuse to look away from the image in front of me.
"Guess not," I said pathetically.
"That woman is a lucky bitch," Kacie replied to her sister as she sat down on her chair.
"You can say that again," Kari added.
"I'd have to say Stefan Harrison would be my first choice of all the celebrities to sleep with."
"That man is seriously walking sex," Tyler added as he took the magazine from Kari's hands to inspect. Tyler was an amazing friend, a talented hairdresser, and loved guys just as much as we did. Sometimes it was Ty's word that could make or break our opinion on a potential date.
"Hell yeah he is, but you know what?" Kacie asked, taking the magazine for her chance to ogle the man that I once called mine.
"What?" Kari asked.
"I'll bet that even though he has slept with just about every gorgeous woman in the country, that he still makes time for his mother," Kacie said in a matter-of-fact tone. Tyler and Kari let out an 'awe' of agreement as a very unladylike snort made its way from me.
I didn't mean to pitch in a single thought to this conversation, while I secretly begged that Devin would walk in so we could leave. The reaction just slipped out.
"What?" The three snapped back in sync.
"Nothing," I quickly added before diverting all my attention down to my phone. It did nothing to distract me since not only was my phone off completely after the battery popped out when I dropped it-but they weren't letting it go that easily.
Kacie was the first to step in with an argument. "Oh, what would you know, Grey?!"
More than you think.
"You hate Stefan Harrison and have made that clear by throwing away every catalog we have with an article about him in it." Shit. I hadn't realized anyone noticed. At least they didn't know the real reason why I didn't want to hear, see or read about him.
"And what's your point?" I deadpanned, trying my hardest to show no interest in anything concerning Stefan.
"I'm sure it would kill someone who hates him to think about him being not just a playboy but a mama's boy too," she challenged. The three crossed their arms over their chest to stand behind Kacie's argument.
"Ha!" I burst out. "Stefan Harrison is so not a mama's boy. He avoided his mother every chance he had. She even had to go through me to get a hold of him. Not to mention their relationship went down the drain after they didn't support us. Unless they somehow repaired their shithole of a relationship-then I say no-Stef isn't a mama's boy."
I turned my back to them, feeling rather victorious as I threw my phone into my purse. It wasn't until I spun back around and saw their expressions that I knew I made a mistake. Their eyes were bugged out and their mouths hung open. Kari even had a hand thrown over her mouth for an added effect. My eyes shut and a sigh heaved from my chest. Not that this helped any to take back all the information I had so willingly offered up.
"What did you say?" Kacie asked, making each word sound like its own sentence.
I cleared my throat and shook my head. "Nothing."
"Honey, you did not just say nothing!" Tyler squealed out. "Do you know Stefan Harrison?"
"No! Of course I don't know him … anymore." I made sure the last word was said just for my sake, but apparently their hearing was working overtime because they all screamed, "What?!"
My head hung down. "Can I please not answer any follow up questions about it?"
"Hell no!" Kacie squealed. "Here I am lusting over this man and turns out you know him!?"
"Knew," I corrected.
Tyler stepped forward, his mouth hanging open as if he was trying to say something but was put on mute. "I just … Grey … you knew the sexiest man in the damn world. I need to hug you!" He flung his arms around my shoulders and squeezed so tightly, I half wondered if he was trying to reach Stefan through me.
"When did you know him?" Kari asked sensing by my hesitation that there was more to the story.
"In high school. It was a long time ago. I doubt he'd even remember me." I added a forced chuckle to lighten the words, but I felt every ounce of hurt behind it. Based on the way their faces instantly switched from enthusiastic surprise to looks of embarrassment they knew a line had been crossed.
"I'm sorry, Grey," Kacie said, taking hold of my arm.