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We don’t even like each other, and that has to outweigh any physical attraction my body betrays me to feel.
“A job. Is this about your assistant?” Tyler asks, going to lean against the railing of the porch.
“Yes. He offered me the job,” Monica pipes in.
Looking over at her, I work hard to suppress a smirk as I see a pale flush creep up her neck. What is she blushing about? A part of me knows that it must be about what was silently transpiring between us before Tyler and the kids showed up.
But why? Do I really have that effect on her? I know I should hate the idea or find it wrong, but I can’t deny that I like it. The idea of making Monica all hot and bothered makes me feel powerful.
“That’s awesome. I was starting to worry you’d move back in with Mom and Dad,” Tyler says, his words seeming more genuine, rather than a dig at Monica.
Though I don’t think she takes it that way as she narrows her eyes at him. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“The kids wanted to see Grandma and Grandpa. I couldn’t say no,” he says with a shrug.
What would have happened if Tyler and the kids hadn’t interrupted us? I’d like to think we wouldn’t have kissed, the rational part of our brains protecting us from making such a mistake.
But then again, it would have been so easy to just lean forward and press my lips against hers, letting the length of our bodies rub up against each other, no care that at any moment, someone could walk in on us.
It would have been bad. But it would have felt so good.
“What were you doing here?” Tyler asks, directing the question to Monica.
“Mom asked me to come over. Little did I know she was setting me up, so Jared could talk to me,” Monica grumbles in annoyance.
She didn’t seem so annoyed when she was staring into my eyes.
I chastise myself at the thought. This needs to stop. I can’t be thinking about Monica in any way that isn’t platonic, even if we’ve had sex. From now on, I am completely wiping any inappropriate thoughts of her from my mind.
“Setting up? More like gifting you the opportunity,” I explain, knowing that keeping up our usual banter is what we need to help get back to normal.
By the scowl on her face, I can tell it’s working.
“Hey. You’re still having that meeting with Jessica, right?” Tyler asks, the thought seeming to just pop into his mind.
Letting my eyes dart over to look at Monica, I see the quizzical look on her face as she waits for me to answer. Why did Tyler have to bring that up?
“Um, yeah, I’m going there now,” I manage to say, clearing my throat to force the words out of my mouth.
Tyler seems to notice my discomfort as he says, “Let me know how it goes.”
I give him a nod, and we all stand there in a sort of awkward silence that I know is mostly my fault.
Noticing the growing awkwardness, Tyler pushes himself off from the railing to leave the porch. “Well good luck, you guys.”
Upon stepping off the stairs, he lets out a guttural yell as he starts chasing after Caden and Lyla, who let out excited screams at the antics of their father.
“You start on Monday,” I tell Monica as I turn to leave, dreading where I have to go next.
“Can’t wait,” she says, her sardonic voice telling me she can, in fact, wait.
Though I know I should keep on walking out, I reply, “Me either,” over my shoulder.
I couldn’t help myself. My charms are a blessing and a curse.
Rushing out to my car, I don’t waste any more time, knowing I need to get to this meeting. I’ve been dreading it ever since Charles told me he set it up. And I don’t have a whole lot of time, having to pick up Archer from his playdate in a couple of hours.
For the first time since she left, I have to see Jessica in-person. I just wish I could wrap my head around what it is she’s doing. Why would she want to meet now? What is this newfound interest in Archer?
