Michael gave him a defiant look, but we all knew he wasn’t going to try to fight Graham. There was no way in hell he’d have any chance of beating him.
“You’re a piece of work,” he said to Tara. He started to walk down the sidewalk. “You really are. Don’t ever get in touch with me again.”
He turned and walked off.
“What a dick!” Tara said. She looked at Graham. “I didn’t know you were part of our covert operation, too.”
“I’m not,” he said. “But I had a feeling I better make an appearance.”
“We were handling it,” Tara said. “But we do appreciate you showing up.”
“Right.” Graham nodded slowly. “You can barely even walk.”
“I rolled my ankle. Just give me a minute.”
He looked at me. “And what about you? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine!” I did, in fact, feel fine, probably a whole hell of a lot better than Tara felt with her swollen ankle.
“Help me over to that bench,” Tara said. She hobbled over and sat down, gingerly stretching her leg out in front of her.
“That’s not looking so great,” Graham said.
“Forget about my ankle.” Tara grinned at me. “Let’s talk about the most exciting part of tonight.”
“And what would that be?” I asked. “You nearly getting an abducted by your ex-boyfriend?”
“No! I’m talking about you referring to Graham as your boyfriend! You might’ve thought you snuck that one by me, but no way!”
“Oh,” I said, barely remembering that I’d said it. “Well, I only said it because Michael was trying to say that Graham was your boyfriend, not because he’s actually mine ...”
Graham laughed. “Am I being fought over? I don’t mind being your boyfriend, you know. I’ve never actually officially been someone’s boyfriend, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot. For you.”
Tara squealed. “Ahhh, I love it!”
“You would?” I asked.
“Of course I would. You’re worth it.”
I felt my face start to get warm. “Really? I mean, yeah, of course I would love it if you were my boyfriend!”
“Oh, you two are so cute,” Tara said. “Give him a kiss!”
“Well ... okay!” I said, going over to him. But instead of just standing in front of him, I jumped up, wrapping my legs around his waist, his arms around my neck. “I’m supposed to kiss you,” I said. “Since you’re my boyfriend and all.”
He grinned. “Be my guest.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Graham
I have a girlfriend.
Having never had a girlfriend before, I found myself randomly thinking this thought at various times throughout the day. I might have been brushing my teeth, or getting into the truck, or even doing work on a customer—and that thought would suddenly be there.
Such as right now, standing here behind the counter at work. I’d just hung up the phone with someone who’d scheduled an appointment for this weekend when the thought crossed my mind and brought a smile to my face.
“What?” Helena asked, looking at me suspiciously. “You’ve been grinning like a fool since you got here.”