“Why do you think it’s not serious? Did he say something?”
“No. Just a feeling. I’m not sure. Maybe guys don’t say much even if they do have serious feelings about someone. Like … they probably don’t send gushing texts or use a bunch of emojis.”
“Ha! Not my ex. He sent me the dirtiest texts all the time with a string of eggplant and peach emojis. I bet Bossman sends her dirty texts. I can see him having a dirty side.”
Hailey wasn’t helping my emotional situation one bit. Was he sending Teagan texts? Were they still together? Did he play me? The more I thought about it, I felt so played by him. He and Teagan were having a good laugh over my foolishness.
I spent the better part of my day silently fuming while sorting and alphabetizing invoices and receipts. Even the lunch Hailey brought me was left half-uneaten because I couldn’t stomach it and the very real possibility that I was a pawn.
“I’m taking off,” I said after placing the last sorted pile into the file box.
“Okay. Have a good night. Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Who knows. I never seem to know myself until the last possible minute.”
“Sounds about right.” Hailey laughed as I pushed through the door.
On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store and grabbed a few essentials. Then I made the short drive home, parking across the street just as Fisher pulled into the driveway on his motorcycle with a woman on the back.
Unbelievable.
My heart deflated as a cynical voice in my head laughed at me. I grabbed my two bags of groceries from the back and marched past the driveway to the path leading down the hill, not giving a single glance in the direction of Fisher and the dark blonde as they removed their helmets.
“Reese?” he called.
I walked faster.
“Reese?” His voice and the rest of his terrible self followed me.
I unlocked the door and picked up the bags, continuing into the basement like I didn’t hear him or see him. Then I told myself not to cry. I even prayed for my tears to stay in check. Crying after one kiss (well, two) was something an eighteen-year-old virgin would do. And even if that was me, I wasn’t offering that version to Fisher. Not anymore. He couldn’t be trusted with my heart. I wouldn’t have trusted him to hold my kite string on a breezy day.
“Why do you make me chase you?”
I hoisted the bags onto the counter and released a slow breath while plastering on a fake smile as I turned toward him. “The question is … why are you always chasing me? I’m just the girl living in your basement. The employee you see several times a week. Seems silly that you’re even giving me the time of day right now when you have some blonde waiting for you to … I don’t know …” Shrugging, I tapped my chin. “Kiss her. Or do more than that.”
Resting one hand on his hip and his other hand rubbing the back of his neck, he eyed me with no regret. “Are you done?”
My frown deepened. “Yes.”
“I’m not going to kiss the blonde because she’s my sister, so that would be weird. Occasionally, she likes to ride with me. That’s her red Honda you parked next to.”
After processing his explanation, I shrugged. “What about Teagan?”
“What about her?” He unzipped his jacket.
“Are you still with her?”
A slow grin made its way up his face as he shook his head. “I’m not sure I was ever ‘with’ her, but she’s not okay being ‘with’ me since you were in my bathtub.”
Was I a consolation prize? Since the beautiful doctor didn’t want to be with him, he got the naked girl in his bathtub? Was I even that? I felt certain he’d had sex with her, yet he didn’t think they were together? What could a simple kiss possibly have meant to him?
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have taken a bath in your tub.” Pivoting, I unloaded my groceries.
“I disagree. I gave you permission. I’m still giving you permission. Do you want to take a bath? Right now?”
Couldn’t he let me be mad for a few seconds? No.
Releasing an unavoidable laugh, I shook my head while closing the fridge. “I don’t want or need a bath right now. And where’s your sister?”
“She had to leave.” He slipped off his jacket and tossed it on the sectional.
I folded the paper bags, eyeing his moves as he made his way to me. A wall of shields lifted around my heart as an inner voice chanted, No. No. No.
“Did you get a lot of work done today?” He gripped my waist, and my hands flew to his shoulders because I wasn’t sure what he was doing. Then he lifted me onto the counter and stepped into the space between my spread legs.