Page 74 of Prince Charming

She was about to find out.

“Oh, I know where I’ve seen you.” The woman feigned, like she hadn’t had her speech ready the moment she spotted her.

Marianna indulged her. “Yes? Where is that?”

“Tag’s gym. Yeah, I go in there quite a lot.”

“Okay. Do you mind getting out of my way?” Marianna tried to sidestep, but the path was blocked again, and she raised an eyebrow. “Something to say to me?”

“You’re not from around here, are you?”

Astute. What gave it away, she wondered sarcastically.

“Let me make this easy for you.” Surprise flared in the woman’s eyes. Though Marianna kept her voice hushed, she wasn’t here to play games. “You dated Tag. You know he’s my boss, and you saw me in the bar recently with his friends. Now you’re dying to know who I am to him or to give a warning to stay away from your man. Am I wrong?”

The woman didn’t miss a step as her fake smile dropped, “I don’t need to. Tag and I are casual, we see each other when we want to. He stayed over last night, I’ll tell him hello from you. But if you’ve set your feelings at his feet, I’d think again, trying to help a sister out, you know?”

Do not bother, Marianna wanted to tell her.

Whether the woman was being vindictive or was a born liar, a snatch of doubt clutched at Marianna. Where was Tag last night? Was he with this woman?

She’d never asked him, and he hadn’t volunteered that kind of information to her. Naturally assuming he was single because of how he’d been pursuing her.

Now she was not sure, and she hated the uncertainty.

Sofia wore a smirk like she knew she’d hit her mark.

Marianna wouldn’t give the woman the satisfaction of knowing she’d rattled her as she held tight to her groceries and left without a word.

Not before she’d heard, “I guess we’ll be seeing lots of each other now.”

Not if Marianna had anything to do with it.

The last thing she needed was to get embroiled in a tug of war over a man.

She didn’t realize she’d walked so fast until she stopped at the side of the Dairy Queen to catch her breath. Puffs of air left her lips. Her brain, without permission, churned over doubtful thoughts.

Marianna, in such a slow yet extraordinary way, had formed an attachment to Tag, without knowing for sure if he were free to attach to.

Pushing it from her mind, she wasn’t afforded the luxury of having silly female thoughts. Not when she had somewhere important to be soon. Rushing home, she unpacked the groceries, washed up and then set off for the bus.

It took her across town into Westbank Falls.

Unfamiliar with the dilapidated area. She walked for a long time until she reached the building she was to meet her contact at. Thankful of the gloves and scarf Tag insisted she carry with her when snow flurries fell gently.

Oh, my God, it looked like the scene for murders and rapes you see on CNN.

A cold snatch of fear clutched Marianna’s belly.

She really would round up the shittiest year by getting herself killed.

Ten minutes went by and not one car yet.

Another fifteen and she was thinking she’d wasted an entire afternoon on this mercy errand. What could she do if this crashed? Where could she turn to next?

It was then on the horizon she saw a blue Sedan taking the turning.

All alone, no one knew she’d gone on this errand.

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