“Excuse me?”
“Don’t look at them. Don’t read the articles or the gossip magazines or wherever you’re getting your information. I’m sure Teddy doesn’t keep tabs on everything you’re doing.”
“Why would he? I don’t do anything I would be ashamed of.”
I sigh, opening up the dishwasher so I can put things away. “I need to get ready, Dad. Are we done?”
“Cut that girl loose if you’re not going to marry her. And quit that TV show whilst you’re at it. It’s beneath you to listen to those people airing out their problems on television.”
He walks through the archway to the hallway, and I hear the front door slam.
The air clears as soon as he leaves, and I can breathe again.
Chapter Eight
Alfie
Idrive along the road toward Lottie’s house, bracing myself for another endless discussion about my nonexistent love life. Mia has been mentioned more times than I can count in our group chat this last week, that eventually I leaned into it.
Last night…God, what was I thinking? And how did she even know I would be there? It’s like she knows what I’m going to do before I do. And that outfit, Christ. How Texas ever let her leave the state when she looks that good in a pair of denim shorts, I’ll never know. She looked like a dreamlike cowgirl, a pinup model that men would fantasize about whilst away at war. The promise of coming home to something completely out of their league. A fantasy girl. Now I understand what my patient Austin meant last year when he let his now fiancée, Olivia, kidnap him and hold him hostage in her basement. I’d let Mia lasso me any day of the week if she were wearing that outfit. She could hog-tie me and keep me with the horses just to pull me out whenever she wants to use me. No worries, love, saddle up.
I shake the image, mentally preparing myself for the inevitable bloodlust of my friends over a night of drinks, games and gossip. On today’s agenda: Mia; how I can get Mia; whetherMia would ever see me as anything other than her boss; and unfortunately for me, whether I have the ability to get a woman like Mia in the first place.
As I slow to pull into the drive, I spot someone lurking behind a tree. The dark figure is dressed all in black and hides quickly behind the trunk as I approach.
What the fuck?
The lingering bruises on my face should be enough to scare them away, or maybe they would see me as an easy target considering there are no bruises on my knuckles. I pull off the road. Jumping out of the car and slamming the door. A small squeak sounds out.
The earthy smell of damp soil fills my lungs as the soft squidge of moss beneath my feet quietens my approach. As I round the tree, all I see is an arm, covered in a long-sleeved T-shirt, darting around the corner.
“You better show your face or I’m going to call the police.”
“Why?” an obviously fake male voice sounds out. “Is stalking people wrong?”
“Oh Christ. Mia? Are you fucking serious right now?”
She continues to use a gruff rendition of a man. “Did you just swear at a lady?”
“Get back here!” I trip over a tree root trying to grab her, but the sprightly menace evades me.
A honk of a horn pulls me back into the present, Jonesy opening his window with a look of utter confusion on his face as I attempt to grab Mia yet again.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to grab my receptionist,” I yell back.
“I’m your goddamn office manager. How many times must I say it?” She stops hiding, her hands on hips, face thunderous.
“Oh, shit…that’s her?” Jonesy says, his mouth gaping.
“Get inside or I’ll tell Katie you were gawking,” I snap before turning my attention back to myoffice manager.
He grumbles, and the roar of his engine spits up gravel as he makes his way down to Lottie’s house.
Mia’s annoyedagain.Seems this might be our usual state now.
The outfit, however, is new.
