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I entered my office, shutting the door and tossing my briefcase on my desk. Then I went over to the window looking out over the desert. I couldn't get my mind to focus on anything else but Betts.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock on my door.
"Come in." I stayed standing by the window but turned and watched as Betts entered my office. I was prepared to confront her about the article. What I wasn't prepared for was the longing that welled in my chest the first time seeing her in a week. I had the urge to rush over to her and wrap her up in my arms. I wanted to run my fingers through her thick red hair and consume her luscious pink lips.
She moved to the middle of the room, watching me, studying me, clearly uncertain as to why I had summoned her here.
"Are you wanting a report on how Mikael did in Colorado?" she asked.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and irritation flamed in my gut. "I think I have a pretty good idea of how Mikael did in Colorado. It's plastered all over the fucking media. Mikael has a new girlfriend. I guess you were able to get over all his sexist comments. I mean, he's a good-looking, athletic guy."
Her eyes rounded as if in shock. And then they narrowed like laser beams. "What are you insinuating?"
I let out a derisive laugh. "I'm not insinuating anything. It's plastered all over the news. My star player is dating the team’s head of marketing." I tilted my head toward her, mimicking the intensity of her eyes as I stared down at her. "Tell me, Betts, does he know that you've been fucking the boss too?"
18
Betts
The only other time I had wanted to strike a man was when I discovered my fiancé was cheating on me. I felt the betrayal and the anger deep in my bones. That was the way I felt now at Todd's accusation that I was sleeping with Mikael. With his words, Todd turned what I had with him into something sordid.
But maybe that was what it was. We’d hooked up. Although the situation was complicated, I had no doubt that I had wanted more than just a sexual affair even if it was inconceivable. The way Todd said that I'd been fucking the boss told me that it was nothing more than that.
But if that was the case, why did he care what I was doing with Mikael?
I considered leaving and not giving him a response. I'd gather my things and leave. Maybe I’d quit. At the very least, I would resume my job hunt. I couldn't continue to work like this.
But a little voice told me that perhaps Todd was jealous. Either way, I would tell him the truth, and then I'd leave.
I glared at him, not wanting him to see how his words had hurt me. "That article is not correct. The reporter got it all wrong. Mikael only meant to say that I was a friend who happened to be a girl. But it came out as girlfriend because he doesn't realize what that means. Before I could correct the reporter, he got a call and left. That's it." I set my hands on my hips and leaned forward. "I'm not sure why it's got your boxers all in a bunch. Aren't you the one who always encourages scandalous stories whether they're true or not? Are you going to tell me now not to deny it just like you told Naomi not to deny reports of her having a relationship with Max?"
Todd's jaw tightened. “That wasn't the same."
She arched a brow. "Oh, really? Let's invite Naomi here and you can tell her why this is any different than what you made her go through. Lucky for you, no one is going to care about this story. I'm a nobody."
"That's not true." He didn’t elaborate, so I wasn’t sure what he meant. Was he saying I wasn't a nobody? Was he saying that to make me feel better or because he felt like it would continue to be in the news?
"The point is, it's going to blow over. If that's all that you want, I have work to do."
He continued to stare at me with an expression I couldn't read. When he didn't respond, I turned to leave.
I just reached the door when he called out, "Betts, wait."
I took a breath and then turned toward him. He ran his fingers through his hair as he turned to look out the window. I waited until finally, he turned to me with a sheepish smile. "You handled it a whole lot better when you were jealous of Johanna."
I arched a brow, not liking being reminded of my jealousy. Especially after the way he was being such a jerk. "Is that what this is? Jealousy?"
He shrugged. "Maybe. Yeah, I think so. The red mist that blinded me when I saw the picture and article of you and Mikael gave it away." He was trying to bring levity, but I wasn't quite ready to let go of my hurt and anger.
He blew out a breath. "Look, I know that whatever it is between us has not been defined. And I know that it’s because of all the complications, of my being your boss, but ...”
I leaned forward, wondering what he was stopping himself from saying. "But what?"
"I wanted to say that I don't like to share. But like I said, this thing between us has never been defined. And now my life has gotten even more complicated."
I could hold up against his anger, but the look of confusion, like he was lost, adrift, that was my undoing.
My hurt and anger dissipated. "How are things with your son?"
