Page 97 of If You Stayed

“Five weeks!” I hollered, stunned.

“Gosh, Gabriel. Don’t make it a thing.”

“You made it a thing. Again, you’re fired.”

“Oh, fuck you, Gabriel!” she barked, shoving me in the arm. “Stop acting like you’re so high and mighty.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You think I don’t see it? How you look at her? Sometimes, I walk past Florence Bakery, and I see the two of you in there, laughing it up with one another. And now you’re going around punching her husband. You look at her with stars in your eyes.”

“I don’t look at her in any other way than I look at everyone,” I lied.

“Bullshit. Stop lying. And you know why I can tell that you look at her like you do? Why it’s so clear to me?”

“Why’s that, Ramona?”

“Because,” she choked out. Her eyes teared up and she shook her head. “I’ve been waiting years for you to look at me the way you look at her. So, judge me if you want. Fire me if you need to. I don’t care. But don’t pretend that I’m the only person who caught feelings for a client.”

She began to walk back over to her car and I called out to her. “Ramona.”

“Yes?”

“He’s not the genius you think he is. He’s an asshole, and if he’d do this to his own wife, what do you think he’ll do to you?”

“Well…” She shrugged. “I guess that’s for me to find outon my own.”

As she drove away, I couldn’t help but feel as if she was walking straight into a firepit. It wouldn’t take long for her to get burned.

25

Kierra

“I’m worried about you,” Tamera said as I walked to the front door with her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I just need to clean up a bit and then I’ll head to bed.”

“You should hire someone to clean this mess up,” she said as she tossed on her coat. “It’s your birthday, Kierra. There’s no reason to be cleaning up yourself.”

“It’s okay. I have this handled. Just have a great sleepover with Ava. And thanks for all the help tonight. Everything was beautiful.”

She smiled but it seemed to be a grin filled with questions. “Are you okay, though? Has Henry been good? To you, I mean. The last time he stopped by, we got into an argument, but I’ve heard a few rumors that things haven’t been going well at his company.”

“Oh? He hasn’t mentioned anything.” Not that he would. I knew as much about Henry’s work as the next person. Then again, I didn’t care to know. If I could, I’d erase him completely from my thoughts.

“He didn’t tell me either, but I heard a few others mention it tonight as I was strolling around. I guess a big deal just fellthrough.”

“Oh. Well, he seems to be doing okay.” More than okay.

“But he’s been good, right? To you, I mean? I know there was a situation tonight, but even before that…he’s been okay?”

I narrowed my eyes and slightly shook my head. “Tamela, what do you…?”

Humming was heard in the living room, which was a telling sign that Henry was in a good mood. When he was outrageously joyful, he hummed. It kind of pissed me off that he was humming. It was almost as if he was mocking me.

We both looked toward the living room. A weighted sigh fell from Tamela’s lips before she placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t mind me, love. I’m just an overthinker. Happy birthday, Kierra,” she said, pulling me into a hug. Tamela was a master at giving the best hugs. They made me feel enveloped in warmth and care each time she delivered them. “I love you so much.”

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