Our Way

I tend to agree—we are too busy—and there’s the small issue of me going away on a conference with Henry next week. Worst timing ever.

I haven’t told Nathan yet. I’ve been skirting around it because I know he’s going to hit the roof.

“Come and sit with me, babe!” he calls.

“I just want to get this finished!” I call back.

“I’ll help you tomorrow night. You haven’t stopped all day.”

“I know, but I have a busy week next week, remember?” I close my eyes. Now. Tell him now.

“Why, what’s going on?”

“We have that charity ball next weekend, and then I have my work conference in Dallas. I leave Sunday afternoon, remember?”

I open my eyes and continue to fold the towels. I see movement out of the corner of my eye.

“What did you say?” Nathan comes into the laundry room.

“I have a work conference next week.”

“With who?”

“Henry.”

He glares at me. “No.”

“Nathan.”

“I said fucking no. You’re not going anywhere with him.”

17

Eliza

I roll my eyes. “Nathan, I have to go; it’s a condition of the job.”

“You’re not going.”

“I agreed to this conference at my interview and I can’t get out of it. I’m not discussing this with you.”

“Was that before or after he told you he was attracted to you?”

I open my mouth to say something smart back, but no words come out.

How does he know that?

“I misunderstood him.” I fire back as I march up the hallway, and he storms after me.

“Well, Eliza?” he calls. “Which was it? Before or after he literally told you he wants to fuck you?”

“He did not say that.” I snap as I walk into the bathroom, and I turn the shower on with force. “You’re making shit up now. He does not want to fuck me. This is all in your head.” I take my clothes off and get under the hot water. “Get out, I want to shower in peace.”

“I’m not making shit up, and you know it.” He growls. “Over my dead fucking body will you be going to a conference alone with that fucker.”

I shake my head in disgust. “Tempting.”

“Tempting? What’s fucking tempting?”