Misfit(90)
“Yes,” Fee insisted. “I’ll just hang with Slipper and his sons.”
“You don’t hang with people like them.”
“Kendall—”
“Fuck, but you’re so fucking difficult, Fee!”
“You stole the words right out of my mouth,” Fee retorted.
Kendall glared at her. “Remember I told you I’d make it up to you for not sitting with me and Meggie over brunch?”
“You insisted I keep the camera. That covers it.” Fee couldn’t say she’d ever use the thing, so Kendall had wasted her money. Not that she’d listen and take the gift back. She seemed to think that made up for her bad behavior. “You two do fine without me, anyway.” Thank God! There’d be no sign of Kendall’s stupid quest to get back to the law firm, ruin Meggie’s marriage, or accuse Meggie of sleeping with Johnnie. That was amazing progress. “Yesterday you sounded as if you two had more fun than you’ve had in a while.”
“If you say so. Of course I had to settle her down. She’s so high-strung and still believes I’m behind Daphne’s antics. She wants to pretend she has sense.”
She was back to insulting Meggie. “To me, she has a lot of sense. She was right on target, not high strung.”
“Oh, please. Going on about suspecting me of being involved with what Daphne did when we all know it had to be Christopher.”
Fee wondered if Kendall considered herself the pot or the kettle. Both Kendall and Meggie were high-strung with each other. Once again, Meggie had asked Fee to sit with them and, once again, Fee declined.
“Would you have let me sit in with you if you couldn’t convince her otherwise?”
“To shut her up. She’s so fucking spoiled.”
Meggie was spoiled? What was Kendall?
“I really couldn’t show you such special treatment, so I would’ve fired you. Dear me, that sounds so harsh. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s no problem. I need to know your boundaries just like you need to know mine.”
“I beg your pardon? Yours?”
“Yes, Kendall, my boundaries. I know who you are. My boss. I respect you as such. However, I expect consideration as your employee, your friend, and your family member. Pick one reason. Or all three. That’s up to you. For instance, I’d never dream of calling you stupid.”
“It was just a reaction. If you were truly stupid, you wouldn’t be working for me. Don’t be so fucking sensitive.”
“Sensitive?” If she only knew what Fee risked to protect Kendall from Christopher’s wrath, perhaps, she’d back off. “I’m not sensitive.”
“Oh, please. Not everyone is as thick-skinned as me, so I do apologize for offending you.”
“Another apology? What’s wrong with this picture?” It didn’t matter. Kendall wore Fee out, so she let her bad behavior go. Again. “As long as you feel the need to apologize, I’ll accept.”
“We’re girlfriends, so we have to hug.”
The vulnerability in Kendall’s eyes reminded Fee of why she wanted to protect her. They shared an awkward hug over the center console.
Kendall laughed. “This is so much better than me firing you.”
“Yes, or me quitting.”
“As if you’d ever find a boss like me.”
A boss like her? Was there another woman like her on the planet?
“Now that we know each other’s boundaries,” Kendall hastened on, “Let’s return to the business of my making up the missed brunches to you. Charlotte is allowing you to join us for a light lunch and cosmos.”
“Oh, wow, I’m thrilled.” She wondered if Kendall heard her sarcasm.
“I figured you would be.”
Nope, no sarcasm detected.
“As my assistant, I’m shocked Charlotte would agree,” she continued. “But I told her what good friends we are. You’re off the clock until after we dine. Did I mention that to you?”
“You didn’t. You can’t not pay me to bring me to a lunch with a woman I don’t even know or an event I haven’t consented to.”
“Of course I can. You work for me. By the way, you can only have a small cosmo, since you’re driving.” Kendall got out of the car. “Come, come,” she encouraged before closing the door.
How did one unbitch a bitch? It grated to go along with Kendall’s screwy idea, but she had no choice.
Stomping out of the car, Fee slammed her door shut, almost barreling into Slipper.
“You want us to wait here for you?”
“Ask Kendall,” she grumped, frowning at his offensive body odor.
“Kendall!” he called.