Chapter 601
Frustration got the better of Curran as he threw his hands up in despair. “What a mess! Have the Reeds really boiled down to this bunch of no-hopers?”
Standing by were Judie and Evie, dubbed the “no-hopers,” who didn’t utter a peep. Just then, Bobby walked in from the cold, catching the tail end of his grandfather’s tirade, a wave of guilt washing over him.
As Curran’s eyes locked onto Bobby, they flashed with anger. “You’ve got some nerve showing up! Useless! Out with you! I can’t even stand to look at you right now!”
With that, Bobby was unceremoniously ousted from the house.
Left to his own devices, feeling lower than low, he toyed with the idea of crashing at Cristian’s. Yet, imagining Cristian cozying up with his girlfriend, he ditched the idea to avoid playing the third wheel. Bobby ended up slumped on a bench in the community park, wallowing in his woes.
With dwindling options, he pulled out his phone and dialed Wendy’s number.
Surprisingly, she picked up.
Energized, Bobby jumped in. “Hey, Wendy, I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”
Wendy’s response was icy, detached. “If you can’t get your words out straight, just hang up.”
Bobby, momentarily stunned, quickly gathered himself. “No, wait! Hear me out. I just called off my engagement with Fernanda.” A pause hung in the air before Wendy responded, taken aback, “Called it off?”
“Yeah, it’s done. And Grandpa’s livid because he was quite fond of her. Now he’s kicked me out on the street.” Dropping his voice to a whisper, Bobby added,
“Wendy, I’m out on my ear here. Any chance I could crash at your place for a night?”
Wendy was unmoved. “No.”
Desperation seeped into Bobby’s voice. “I bolted without my driving license and now can’t get into a hotel. Cristian’s tied up with Fernanda, and I can’t bug them. All my buddies are out of town for the holidays, and I hate to be a bother. Looks like it’s me and this bench for the night… and it’s freezing. Wendy, if I end up a popsicle by morning…”
Her laugh was a cold jab. “Why don’t you try a nightclub?”
Bobby countered, “Come on, I don’t do clubs anymore. I’m all about the library these days. But guess what? It’s the holidays and they’re all closed. Look, I won’t keep you. I’ll just park myself here a bit longer… Ah-choo!”
There was a brief silence on Wendy’s end, then she asked, “Are you catching a cold?”
Bobby, who was in perfect health, perked up, a sly smile spreading across his face. He pinched his nose and feigned a weak voice. “Yes, I didn’t want to mention it because I didn’t want you to think I’m fishing for sympathy. I’ve had this cold for a few days now, but it’s nothing serious. Should clear up soon.”
“Isn’t that your usual move, looking for sympathy?” Wendy scoffed.
“I’m really not. I’m genuinely miserable…”
Wendy, her patience wearing thin, finally gave in. “Alright, alright, come to the bar where I work. I’m not off until four. And keep the drama to a minimum when you arrive, got it?”
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