Page 90 of Homecoming

Except that it’s MYLES. Your BOSS. Who drives you crazy. Remember that?

Her conscience was being a total bitch, and for once, she decided to ignore her better judgment and enjoy a bit of the Housewives along with her shake and herboss, who was still sitting far too close for comfort.

“Can I ask you something?”

Renata looked over at him. “I guess…”

“Did I do something to make you dislike me so much?”

Chapter

Nineteen

Holy shit.Renata hadn’t expected that. “I don’t dislike you.”

“Oh. You don’t?”

“Of course I don’t.”

“Huh, well, I thought you did.”

Now she felt like a total asshole for making him think that. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

He groaned. “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that one.”

“People say that to you?”

“Womensay that to me. Along with, ‘You’re a really nice guy, but you’re not the nice guy for me.’ Inevitably, they end up with some douchebag who treats them like shit, and they lap up every bit of the unending drama for some reason I can’t fathom.” He gestured to the TV where the Housewives were engaged in yet another bitter dispute. “Why do people want to live that way?”

“I… uh… I don’t know, but I’m sorry you’ve been treated like that.”

“It’s fine. I’d rather be dismissed for being a nice guy than loved for being an asshole, you know?”

She nodded, intrigued by the insight and… Oh crap, was sheattractedto him? No way. That wasn’t possible. Was it?

“I know what our problem is.”

She took a sip of the shake, trying to buy herself a minute to formulate a reply. “I wasn’t aware we had a problem.”

“We do have one.”

Why did her stomach suddenly feel weird? It was probably the lactose. What else could it be? “Are you going to fill me in on what that is?”

“I want to know why you’re so different toward me since my dad retired and I took over. Before he left, I thought we were friends and maybe on the way to being more than that, but now you treat me like I’m radioactive or something.”

“I do not!”

“Yes, you do, Renata. We’re not friends like we used to be.”

“When we’d sneak off for a liquid lunch when we were supposed to be doing deliveries?”

“Among other things. I thought we had something going, or the start of something anyway, but now… I miss my friend.”

“We’re still friends.”

“No, we’re not. Tell me something…”

“What?”

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