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Nara
What a pleasant surprise my impromptu date with Brodie had turned out to be. Not at all stalkerish, even though he’d showed up at my office, unannounced, in his limo.
And then there were those kisses. God, he was hot.
But still…
Before I turned the corner toward my place, I looked back over my shoulder.
To my surprise, there he was, crouched, in conversation with a homeless man camped out on the sidewalk. He had a hand on the man’s shoulder, and was nodding as they spoke. He reached for his wallet and pulled out some bills. Before leaving, he shook hands with him, leaving the man dazed by the uncommon act of kindness.
I slipped around the corner before Brodie saw me.
I’ll be darned. I was dazed, too.
My heels were not the best things for walking on the old, uneven sidewalks of Brooklyn.
If I’d thought about it earlier, I would have switched to the flats in my bag. Never too late. I kicked off my heels before I broke my neck. Ahhh, my feet cried thank you as I slipped them into shoes that were actually good for my feet.
So Brodie had turned out to be quite charming, not to mention philanthropic. Although I still didn’t know much about him—our drink had been a quick one. But it was generous of him to offer to help Mommy Knows. And I guess he really was committed to helping the homeless.
His involvement wasn’t limited to showing up at fundraising auctions.
But his kiss…
My phone beeped. It was him texting me good night. I couldn’t help but smile as I hurried home before my overloaded computer bag permanently damaged my back.
It wasn’t going to be easy to concentrate, that was for sure.
* * *
Next morning, I walked into Mommy Knows, and good old Mimi was already there. I headed back to my cube when Joi poked her head in.
“Hey girl,” she yelled, half scaring me out of my wits.
“Jesus, Joi. Give me a heart attack, why don’t you?”
She danced toward my desk. What the hell was she up to?
“I’ve got some gossip for you…” she sang.
Last thing I was in the mood for.
“I’m really not interested—”
She looked around gleefully. “Michael is fucking that temp receptionist we have up front.”
Ooof.
Had someone punched me in the gut? Because it felt like it. I didn’t even like Michael, and though we’d messed around, we were certainly not in any sort of relationship. And I’d rebuffed him only recently.
So then why did I feel like a chump?
I’d been in high school when I’d gone through my slut stage. Although it was more like a slut on steroids stage. When I’d emerged from it—bad reputation and all—I had a newfound commitment to academics and to getting the hell out of Dodge. But while in the middle of it, I jumped from guy to guy, desperate for approval and some sort of teenage connection.
But the boys had always moved on to another girl by the next time I saw them in the school hallway.
And Mom wondered why I never wanted to come back home?
“Joi, I could give a shit who that guy sleeps with. It’s his business. As long as he keeps doing his job.”
She rolled her eyes. “Touchy. I’ll come by later when you’re not in such a shitty mood.”
“Joi—” But she was gone.
My phone vibrated. Shit.
“Hi, Simon,” I said with all the enthusiasm I could muster.
They say you get more bees with honey…and it was too early for drama, anyway.
“Darling! I saw your story in Page Six,” he said with glee. “I’m sorry your dating life has become so ho-hum.”
“Simon, what do you want?”
“Oh, just to say hello to my favorite wife. Well, my only wife. And to see how your fundraising efforts have been going. You know, perhaps you could hold another one of those date auctions. They seem like good moneymakers.”
I lowered my voice and whispered, “Simon, go fuck yourself.”
Oh, that felt good.
“Oh, sweetie. If you’re smart—and I know you are—you wouldn’t go ’round pissing me off.”
“I don’t have your money. I’ve told you that. But if I did, I still wouldn’t give it to you. I earned that money by marrying you, which I have really come to regret,” I hissed.
“Well, you’ll have many more regrets in your future if you don’t come to your senses.”
Something snapped. I was done. Just done.
“Look. Don’t call me anymore. Not ever again unless you are bringing me divorce papers. Otherwise, stay away from me or I’ll get a restraining order.”
He laughed. “You can’t get a restraining order against me. I’ve never touched you, and I pose no physical danger to you at all.”
“Don’t worry. I can embellish a story as well as the next person. And I’ll do that if I need to. So like I said, stop calling me. Or you’ll be sorry.”
“Now, Nara, I would be careful if I were you—”
Shaking, I swiped my phone closed and buried my face in my hands.
The phone buzzed again. Brodie.
had fun last night. let’s do it again.
Ugh. All these men could go to hell.
* * *
