Page 49 of Sit, Stay, Love
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and turned to face him with her best everything-is-normal smile.
‘We’re just going over next week’s schedule. After yesterday’s success, we want to keep the momentum going. That’s all. It’s work.’
‘You couldn’t do that over the phone, or email?’
She shrugged. ‘Probably. But we’re not.’
‘Are you having dinner with him?’
‘No. Maybe. Depends how long I’m there, I guess.’ She knew she was straight-up lying, and she didn’t like it.
‘Right. Well. Have fun.’ His voice was colder than she’d ever heard it.
‘Herriot.’
‘What? I ask you if you want to have dinner with me and you blow me off. Ethan James asks you and you jump.’
‘I didn’t jump. I actually said no at first, but he talked me into it.’
‘Huh. So I need to be better at convincing people to do whatever I want them to? Let me work on that.’
She drew in a long slow breath and puffed it back out. ‘What are you doing?’
He scowled. ‘I’m being pissed-off. You probably don’t recognise it because I usually bury it while I let you walk all over me.’
It was as if something reached into her chest and sucked the air from her lungs. ‘I never walk all over you. Why would you say that?’
He looked down. ‘Forget about it. Forget I said anything.’
She reached for his arm, but he pulled away.
‘Do you want me to cancel?’ she asked. ‘Because I’ll cancel.’
‘No, I don’t.’
She stepped forward and took his hand. ‘Herriot. You’re the most important person in my life. Ethan isn’t going to replace you, I promise.’
His eyes narrowed and he wriggled his hand out of hers. ‘Wow. Thanks Ser. I never thought he was. But obviously it’s crossed your mind.’
She sighed. ‘Now you’re being ridiculous.’
‘Am I? You’re the one that said it.’
‘I said he wouldn’t!’
They glared at each other, their mouths set and their nostrils practically flaring.
‘I’m going to cancel,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to upset you.’
‘Don’t. It’s only business, right?’ He lifted his eyebrows, challenging her.
She pursed her lips and nodded.
‘I just don’t particularly like being fobbed off,’ he said. ‘If you’d rather see James than hang out with me, just say so.’
She huffed angrily. ‘I’m not fobbing you off. I see you all the time. We hung out last night. You’re like… you’re like… You’re my best friend. You always will be.’
He stared at her and frowned. ‘I meant to give you some high protein food for the mother cat. Wait here.’
