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My stomach plummets. I blink once, twice, then nod and do my best to smile. “Oh. Of course.”
There’s a lengthy pause while Des stares at the door, and then he turns around and meets my gaze again. “Why did you tell your ex-husband you were with a customer, instead of saying you were with me?”
“What?”
“When you answered the phone. You said you were with a customer.”
“Des.” I frown. “That didn’t mean anything.”
“Didn’t it?” He sighs, shaking his head. “You know what, forget it. I have to pack for Colorado. I’ll call you later.”
The dragon cracks an eyelid. Who does this guy think he is? I met him a few months ago! We spend one weekend together, and all of a sudden he wants to be my everything? I should never have opened up to him. I should never have gone to Thanksgiving with him. I definitely shouldn’t have introduced him to Bailey.
Desmond knows my deepest secrets, he knows how hurt and alone I’ve been for ten years, and he’s giving me shit about what I said to my ex? Is he for real?
He’s just another man with an overinflated ego that I’ll have to bend over backward to accommodate. No, thank you. I didnotsign up for this.
I push my hip out to the side and cross my arms. “Don’t bother calling,” I sneer. “If you’re going to get all upset over a throwaway comment, I have some things to think about.”
His eyes narrow. “A throwaway comment? How hard is it to tell him you’re with me? Are you that embarrassed about me?”
“Why the hell is this about you?” I throw my arms out to the sides. “I’m trying to navigate this messed-up relationship with my ex-husband in a way that doesn’t traumatize my daughter. Where did your name come up in that sentence? That’s right: nowhere.”
“So, what, the past couple of months mean nothing?”
“Not in relation to this!”
“Right.” He snorts and turns to the door.
“You know what, Des, I can’t deal with this right now. I need some space.”
“Well, I’m leaving, so you’re getting about three states’ worth of space from me.”
“Good,” I spit.
“Good.” He repeats. Then the door bangs, and Desmond is gone.
33
DES
Anger blowsthrough me like a gale, carrying me across town and back to my home. But it isn’t really home, is it? At least, not for long.
I grit my teeth. Half of me wants to turn right around and make Mia understand what she means to me. I want her to get that when she pushes me out like that, it makes me feel like I’m eleven years old again, being tormented by my aunt’s favorite.
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, I stare at the gray sky. As the wind cools my skin, reason returns, and I know that Mia is right.
She’s dealing with real issues that are happening right now. So what if my teenage years were hell? So what if my old boss decided to give his company to his own son? That’s in the past. Mia has to deal with her ex-husband and her daughter right now, and I’m making things harder for her.
My shoulders slump. I know I was wrong. Spinning on my heels, I take one step back toward the barbershop, then freeze.
I need some space.
She was crystal clear about her needs, and I want to rush back there and make her listen to me? No, I’m not going to be that guy. I’m not going to be the oaf who needs to be coddled and included. I’m going to respect her wishes.
Once I get back from Lovers’ Peak, she’ll understand how I feel. She’ll see how much she means to me.
Turning back once more, I make my way to Seventh Avenue and let myself into my building. It’s a good thing these properties are sold. It’s a good thing I can move into my own place, figure out what’s next for me. It means there’s space in my life for new things, new people—like Mia and Bailey.
