Page 21 of His to Keep
Her big, doe eyes widen as she regards me. “I… I’m sure it’s fine. He’ll probably fizzle out.”
“Or escalate.”
She huffs and collapses back against the couch. “Why can’t I attract a normal man?”
“Um.” I swallow roughly. “Well…”
“Oh, can it,” she sasses. “I know exactly the kind of man I attract. It’s either Mr. Fun-for-a-night or Mr. I-still-live-at-home-and-call-my-mom-mommy.”
“Try working on that sparkling personality of yours.” I shrug. “Maybe if you’re fucking nicer, you’ll find a guy who can tolerate your particular brand of fuckery.”
“I…I’ll take that under advisement, Ellis.” Her easy surrender leaves me wanting more. In the past she’d never walk away from a fight, but for some reason, she really is on her best behavior tonight.
I fucking hate it.
“So,” she drawls after a few minutes.
“So?” I parrot, flexing my hand around the now empty bottle, loving how the crinkle of the label makes her eye twitch. “MoreEnemies & Escrow?”
“Sure, but I’m going to heat up James’s dinner. It’s almost time for him to eat.”
“Make it snappy,” I call after her. “I’ll rewind back to where we were before you stormed out.”
She glances back at me over her shoulder with murder written in her stare. “Don’t bother.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something else combative, but I swallow down the urge and grab the remote, resuming my episode ofEnemies & Escrow.
EIGHT
SCARLET
I’m wipedafter feeding James and getting him in his jammies. Who knew such a small kid could make such a massive mess? I’m pretty sure there are still sweet potatoes in my hair.
Lucky him, he’s too cute to be mad at. Even if I will have to shampoo well in advance of wash day.
“Any word on the pizza?” I ask, as I rejoin Ellis in the living room, settling James into his cushy activity chair.
Ellis checks his phone. “Says it’s out for delivery.”
“Good, I’m starving.”
Wordlessly, he turns his show back on. The producers definitely know what they’re doing, because before I know it, I’m in deep, torn between taking a side in the on-screen drama and being horrified at the way these women treat each other.
Then again, shit like this is why I don’t have many friends. It seems like mean girl antics and drama have followed me ever since middle school when Ashley Sutton—my best friend at the time—told the whole school the reason my dad left was because he didn’t love me.
Don’t get me wrong—she wasn’twrong. My dad was a prick who wouldn’t know love if it walked up and spit in his face, but he didn’t leave because of me. Okay… notonlybecause of me.
I confided in her in the aftermath, thinking she’d have my back. Turns out, she only wanted to plunge a knife into it. Over a freaking guy, too. Apparently, a pre-teen boy with a peach-fuzz mustache and wandering hands was worth ruining our friendship.
So, yeah, this show absolutely reminds me of why I’m so hesitant to let anyone in. If they don’tknowme, they can’thurtme. I’ve had years to fortify the walls around my heart, and as long as they stay strong, my heart will stay whole.
Luckily, Nora’s a literal earth angel. I know I’m safe with her.
“Is being awful a prerequisite to working for their brokerage?” I ask after yet another colossal on-screen blow up.
Ellis tips his head my way and smirks. “Why? Thinking of applying?”
His cruel words make me want to lash out, and if Nora’s big night out wasn’t on the line, I would. But I promised I’d be on my best behavior, so I swallow down the urge. Nora deserves all of the good things, and I refuse to let my ongoing war with the stupidly handsome jackass next to me to ruin her first baby free night.
