Page 40 of Against The Boards

“Beginning of June,” Mrs. Lee said.

That was only a couple weeks away, so it was doable. It was nice, but I wasn’t sure if I should hold out for a better place.

“I need to think about it. Can you give me a day to decide?”

Mrs. Lee nodded and smiled at Fi. “Call me in a couple of days and let me know what you think. But I’m not gonna hold the place for you.”

I nodded and thanked her. I wanted to sleep on it first before I decided.

I thanked Fi for helping me out and hugged her goodbye. She was a friendly person, and I was glad she didn’t push the conversation about Benny. Honestly, I hoped she forgot about it. I drove back to the condo in Old City and tried to weigh my options.

Benny wasn’t back when I returned, and I was grateful for more time alone to think. It appeared the hockey gods wouldn’t let me have any peace today, though, because my phone buzzed with multiple missed text messages.

I groaned when I saw they were all from Lisa.

LISA: Baby, I miss you. Please come home.

I rubbed my temples, collapsing on my brother’s bed. I didn’t have the patience for Lisa and her mind games today. She missed me? She missed me so much, she brought another woman into our bed and then let me be homeless. And she knew I hated being called ‘baby.’

I stabbed out an angry response.

ME: Find someone else to warm your bed. You didn’t have a problem doing that last time.

LISA: Baby, please.

ME: No. I moved to the States. We’re done.

I dropped my phone onto the bed. I didn’t need this; I was done with her, and I wasn’t looking back. I had up-ended my life and moved to a different country because she broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Philly and this job were my clean break. I wouldn’t get back together with someone who cheated on me and then acted like it was my fault. Like I wasn’t enough for her.

I tossed down my phone when I heard the front door open and saw Benny walk in, fresh from a post-workout shower. He smiled at me as he shed his leather jacket. I loved his smile.

“Hey, did you eat?” he called out to me.

I sighed and walked out into the kitchen. He started pulling out pans and was flipping through a cookbook on the counter.

I leaned against the island and watched him. “You don’t have to make dinner again. I’ll probably eat a salad.”

“I don’t mind. I love cooking for other people.”

I bit my lip and nodded. “Okay.”

He turned to me and raised an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

“Rox, are you okay?”

I plastered on a fake smile. “Fine. Do you want help?”

“Nope. You sit your fine ass down and let me cook.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “You can’t say that stuff about me.”

He started getting ingredients out of the fridge and chopping vegetables on the cutting board. He glanced back and made an obvious look at my ass. “Why not? You’ve got a nice ass.”

“Benny! I thought we talked about this. I don’t want people to know we slept together. You know what would happen if my brother found out. You can’t say that sort of shit in front of anyone else.”

He held up his hands in surrender and then opened the fridge and handed me a beer. “Here, drink this and go watch the hockey game while I make us dinner, okay?”