Page 22 of The One Who Saw Her: Boone

Lewis.

Apparently, her life wasn't complicated enough already. She stared at the screen, debating whether to answer or let it go to voicemail.

A few days ago, she would have been thrilled to hear from him. In fact, she'd been a little hurt that besides a few scattered texts he'd barely been in touch. Then again, she hadn't exactly gone out of her way to call him either.

Vivi waited for the devil on her shoulder to take his little pitchfork and poke the angel in the butt. Instead, the angel smothered the devil with its wings, leaving Vivi with only one choice.

She answered the phone.

"Lewis," she said—and even to her own ears the cheer sounded forced.

"Vivi," Lewis said smoothly. "I have a favor to ask, love."

Damn it. Why couldn't the devil have won that round? Because that opening was the worst possible greeting. It made her wonder if he always started conversations that way or if she was just extra sensitive because she was still stinging over the job and the apartment. Or still feeling guilty about her reaction to Boone.

"No, how are you? No, I love you?" she asked—and was a little surprised by her own tone.

The long pause before Lewis answered told her he was surprised too. She'd never spoken to him like that. Not once.

"I'm in a rush," he said. "But you're right. I love you very much. How are you?"

She turned up the sunshine. "Shopping. So, really great."

"That's my girl." But as he said the words, she didn't feel like his anything. She just felt lost.

"I have an inspector coming by the apartment tomorrow and I need you to meet him there."

Vivi closed her eyes. She hadn't exactly disclosed that she'd packed up half her life and moved to a dilapidated ranch in Montana. As far as Lewis knew, she was still at her mom's getting ready to move to Singapore.

"Can't your brother meet him?" she asked.

"He has work."

It suddenly occurred to her—like a light switching on—that it hadn't occurred to him she might have a schedule too.

"I have work as well." Not a total lie. In addition to her ranch chores, she was still logging hours remotely.

"Can't you move some things around?"

Vivi took a slow breath. Here goes nothing.

"I can't." It wasn't quite a no, but it wasn't a yes either.

Baby steps.

The pause was long and loud and when he finally spoke his voice carried a tone of someone not used to being told no. At least not by her.

"It's never been a problem in the past."

Because in the past, Vivi had rearranged her entire schedule to accommodate him without a second thought. It didn't matter what an inconvenience it was for her as long as he was happy. It had always been about his happiness, his convenience. How had she never seen that before?

"Sorry," she said and immediately wanted to smack herself for apologizing for something she had no reason to be sorry about. "It just so happens that I can't this time."

He sighed loud enough to make her ears ache. "Are you still mad because I didn't consult you about the move?"

"No, Lewis," she said, keeping her voice even.

Jo peeked her head into the dressing room, eyes glinting with mischief. "Who's the prick, New York?"