Page 52 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Monday

As I worked on my client, May, my eyes kept straying back to the time. It was nine in the morning. Mia was probably already here, waiting in the reception area. Any minute now, Mike would step out, usher her into his office, and lay her down on his table. He’d run his hands along her back, talk her through her stretches, and–

“That’s a little tight,” May grunted.

I nodded and let her foot go.

“You all right over there? You look like you want to murder someone.”

I tried to laugh, but it came out as a grunt. “Why do people keep saying that?”

“Because… you look like you want to murder someone.”

Well… fine, I got the point, and it was hard to argue with her. Maybe Mia was right. Maybe I did come off as a bit of an asshole. But it was hard to turn my mood around when all I could think about was another man’s hands on her.

“Sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind lately.”

“Oh, that’s fine. If you want to talk about it–”

“No,” I cut her off. “I’m good. I’d rather focus on you.”

She lifted her head and grinned. “Well, I’m free tomorrow night.”

I laughed off May’s flirting, finished her routine, and saw her out. As we stepped outside, I searched the waiting area, and didn’t have to search for long. Mia followed Mike down the hallway, wearing one of her thin, loose-fitting dresses.

It only lasted a few seconds. Her cheeks flushed as she met my stare, and she lifted her brows like she didn’t expect me to be there. But then she turned the corner and disappeared.

I wanted to go after her. I wanted to be the one to take care of her. The thought of Mike’s hands sliding along her spine was enough to make me grind my teeth.

But there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Mia wasn’t mine. I took a breath, pushed this frustration down, then greeted my next client.

Monday Evening

“Hey, Dad.” Kira walked into the practice, letting the door shut softly behind her as she looked around. “Aunt Rochelle isn’t here?”

I sat back in Mario’s chair, relieved. The day was over, and my daughter was good at stealing my focus. And after picturing Mia on Mike’s table for the last twenty minutes, I needed that.

I felt raw and out of control, and it was new to me. I’d never wanted to go out of my way to spend time with someone who wasn’t my daughter before. I’d never felt excited or nervous, as if I could burst out of my skin, like this before.

I’d never felt jealous before.

I didn’t like it. And I didn’t know how to handle it.

“She’s meeting us for dinner.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Kira looked around, fidgeting. I might’ve been preoccupied lately, but it didn’t take a genius to read Kira’s nervous expression.

“You wanted to talk to her about something.”

She met my eyes, then looked away. “Nothing important.”

I didn’t buy it.

“What is it?”