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“Andy, I need the day. I’ll work late for the rest of the week, but I need to have today off.”
“This isn’t some sort of stalling tactic, is it? You’re not after a better pay deal, are you?”
Shocked he’d even think I was capable of such a conniving tactic, I say coldly, “No. If you must know, it’s Athena. My wife needs me. I thought you knew me better than that.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “Sorry, Kris, the leading lady of the film is trying to get a better payday, and I assumed you were too. Forgive me, my friend. Take the day. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Andy doesn’t wait for me to answer. He hangs up, leaving me staring at my cell phone in disbelief. It’s not like him to jump to conclusions.
Coming back inside, I smile at the waiting team. “Pick up tomorrow is at four. I’ve cleared it with Andy. He knows I won’t be in today.”
“In the morning?” asks Charles with disbelief.
“Yep.” I grin at him, and he lets out a whistle.
“Right, okay then. See you tomorrow… nice and early.”
The four burly men file out one by one, with Todd following close behind. Athena pads out of our bedroom and puts an arm around my waist.
“What do you want to do today?” I ask and she shrugs. “What if we stay in, watch movies, and snuggle in bed?”
“I’ll need ice cream.”
Laughing, I embrace her. “I’m sure we have ice cream.”
“No, you don’t,” says Todd.
Scowling at him, I ask, “Why?”
“Because I ate all the ice cream in the guesthouse, so I raided yours,” replies Shannon as she walks through the patio doors.
I’d forgotten how 1950s her looks are—bright red hair, parted on the side, perfectly curled under, and tucked behind one ear. Shannon’s outfit today is a purple dress that clings to her ample bosom, comes in at the waist, and then flairs out. She’s the epitome of a 1950s goddess.
“You ate all my ice cream?” Athena pretends to pout.
“All your ice cream? There was like half a pint left. Pfft! All your ice cream!” Shannon waves a hand at her.
Shannon slips her arm through Athena’s and pulls her away from me.
“Hey!”
She waves a hand at me dismissively and continues to walk Athena toward the door. “You’ve had her all to yourself for over a week. It’s my turn for some Athena time. You and Todd can bond while we go find ice cream.”
“Oh, really? And whose car are you going to take?” I ask with a smirk.
“Yours.” Shannon looks at Athena with a twinkle in her eye. “Do you want to go in the convertible or the Hummer?”
“Convertible!”
“And where are you going to find the keys?”
Shannon looks at me and smiles. “Oh, Kris, my sweet, I already have them.”
“Wait!” Shannon and Athena turn to me. “I don’t like the idea of you going out there alone.”
“She’s not alone, I’ll be with her.”
Ignoring Shannon, I say, “It’s not safe.”
