Page 46 of Miss Typed

Silence. You know how they say it can speak louder than words? Yep. It really can.

“Okay, this is awkward. I guess I’ll see you next week.”

“Chloe, I think we’re better off not having a repeat of yesterday morning. It was a lapse in judgment on my part and—”

I stopped listening. A lapse in judgment? His tongue and fingers in my pussy were a lapse in judgment? Finally, I realized he’d stopped making his stupid excuses. “I get it.” It stung. It stung a lot. Maybe this is how one got better at guarding their heart. By having it bruised a time or two.

“You’ll find someone you’ll be glad you waited for, and he’ll treat you—”

Fury bubbled up. “Stop. Do you think anyone wants to hear they were a lapse in judgment followed up with a PSA on how she should lose her virginity? You regret it. Message received, loud and clear. No need to sugarcoat it.”

“I’m sorry.”

My eyes pricked with tears. “Yeah, well, now you sound like me. Good night. Safe travels.”

I didn’t wait for him to respond; I simply clicked the phone off and let the tears flow.

The next morning in the office, I answered his line as I typically did, “Mr. Aiden Samuels’ office. How may I help you?”

“It’s me.” Aiden.

I wondered when those two words would no longer have a full-body effect. “Hello.”

“Hi. I need more information about Donald. The bank account will take days to track down, and when I ask around using his name, I’m not getting anything. Do you have an address?”

“Ask around? Where are you?”

Silence.

Then it dawned on me. “Are you in Toronto?”

Another hesitation before he finally spoke. “I needed to take care of this in person.”

“You didn’t need to take care of it at all. You said you planned to make some calls, not travel all the way to Canada.” His decision to do this without consulting me made me angrier than I’d ever been. Correction. Maybe not as angry as finding out my brother had gotten my family into this mess, but it was definitely in second place.

“Chloe—”

“Don’t ‘Chloe’ me in your honeyed voice thinking you can pacify me. I’m getting a flight today.” He was way overstepping, and I’d had it. I would go there to deal with this, not have someone do it for me. Especially when he’d called me a lapse in judgment last night.

“No. You’re not.”

“Tell me no again, and I’ll wire all the money to Donald right now. I’ll deal with him and his slippery terms later.”

He cursed in response, then I heard what sounded like him thumping the phone against his head. It would’ve been humorous to picture if I hadn’t been so pissed off.

“Fine. There’s a direct flight to Toronto on Emirates leaving at three a.m. Get to the airport, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

It was tempting to tell him I’d book my own ticket, but I couldn’t spare the money for an astronomical ticket price if I was about to pay off Donald. I’d have to add the plane ticket to what I owed Aiden. “Fine. But don’t be routing me somewhere else in the hopes of getting rid of me.”

“You may wish I had once you get here. Be sure to pack your warm coat.”

* * *

The cold took my breath away the moment I stepped off the plane and onto the jetway at the Toronto airport. Jesus. Had it always been this cold? It didn’t help that I was in fleece and tennis shoes, my warmest winter attire. What could I say? I’d given my winter coats to my sisters before leaving for LA. I certainly hadn’t needed them while living in California or Dubai.

I didn’t bother to check a bag. Since Aiden hadn’t communicated anything other than my flight itinerary, I assumed I should get an Uber and head home. I wasn’t prepared to see him standing outside of the arrivals gate.

Despite his frown, he was handsome in his long, black wool coat and gray beanie.