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Here’s the true Chrissy. The one hiding her stormy eyes from me.
In this moment, time stops, and I picture a scene later in the day, with her bent over that desk and him behind her.
Lila lied to protect her boss. Of course, Chrissy has always known of Miles’s proclivities, but she herself benefited from them, too… until recently.
The life she’s led has left her jaded. So she no longer believes in love, either. She takes what she wants, doesn’t kid herself about what her marriage really is, and no doubt over the years, has taken some sadistic pleasure from hearing about all of Miles’s other conquests.
These people and their sordid lies and foolish fantasies that make for a life built on nothing but ash…
She’s angry because she knows he really has fallen for me.
That’s why she no longer wants him around.
The changed version of Miles is one she doesn’t want in her space. He reminds her of what she turned her back on, long, long ago.
I stand up and leave her office, a little voice in the back of my mind whispering things that are probably going to give Kallie a heart attack when I tell her.
Chapter Eleven
In fact, I resolve not to tell Kallie a thing—because if I do, she’ll talk me out of the plan that’s begun forming in my head. Instead, once my shaking legs have restored me to my desk, I message Miles back:I’ve decided I want to talk. Same place after work?
Absolutely, can’t wait x
A few minutes pass, then he messages again:
What did Chrissy want with you in her office?
Oh, amazing feedback from clients and how happy she is. Just letting me know I’m looking at a little bonus x
Wow, congrats. See you later, then? x
Yes x
Hopefully he believes it’s the bonus and great feedback that’s put me in a good enough mood to want to see him again.
The Carpenters is quiet when I arrive, no doubt it being a Monday night and there being the promise of rain later. He’s waiting at the back of the room this time, drinks on the table. He can’t hide his glee when he sees me walk in and stands up to kiss my cheek and help me off with my coat. Yep, he’s definitely eager all right.
“How are you?” he asks, after I’ve taken a sip of my gin and tonic.
I could tell him how I really am, but that would mean explaining what I have in store for him. Instead, I go with the plan in my head…
Staring down at the table, I run my index finger in circles around a knot in the wood. “I met up with Albie recently.” Well, actually, more than that—I held him all night as he cried.
“And?” asks Miles, sighing impatiently.
Meeting his eyes, I explain, “We sort of… talked. And it’s clear it’s never going to happen.”
His full eyebrows do that thing where they seem to wriggle. “Okay.”
I’m bending the truth a lot, but that doesn’t matter; all that matters is he believes my insinuation.
“Well, so that’s it,” I say, sighing and looking down at the table again. “So maybe I’m feeling a bit different about things.”
“I see.”
“So… that’s why I changed my mind about giving you a chance to say whatever it is you’ve been eager to.” I breathe heavily and he still doesn’t speak. “You said we should talk?”
I look up and see he appears to be unconvinced. He’s suspicious of my intentions, I can tell.
