Page 73 of Save Me
But, fuck, that means my entire morning gone, and my calendar is jam-packed. Plus, I have to get Britt from the airport.
“It’ll give you a chance to keep talking me into holding a corporate event here.”
“Belinda does need another gold watch.” I open and hold the door for her. “Stay tuned. You have my number if you need anything. I’m gonna go take my third time-share pitch for the day. I’ll see you at the cocktail reception later.” I turn to leave.
“Hey, Ronan?” Olivia nods to my knuckles. “Who’d you punch?”
I stretch my hand out in front of me to regard the discoloration. “Henry.”
Her jaw drops in genuine shock. “Seriously? Why?”
“I didn’t like the way he was speaking about my girlfriend.”
A strange look passes over her face. “You know, you’re different than I expected.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”
“Well,I’m rarely wrong about people, so I’m surprised. Pleasantly so. See you later.”
She disappears inside the spa.
I’m halfway to my office to task Archie with chartering a fishing boat when I run into Abbi. She’s wearing a tropical-print bathing suit that hugs her belly and shows off her enormous tits, a flowing cover-up, and a wide-brim tan hat to shield her perfect skin.
“Pool or beach?” I ask.
“Haven’t decided yet, but I’m meeting Margo out there.” She collects my hand in hers to study my bruises. “How are you?”
“Looks worse than it is.”
She hums with disapproval. “That’s what Henry said too. I know you’re both lying. What was it about?”
“Nothing worth repeating.”
Her brow furrows. “Look, I tried talking to him about this expansion project of his, but he doesn’t seem too willing.”
“Yeah, I know. I appreciate it, though. What have you been up to?” I ask, changing the subject.
“This and that. Had some work to catch up on, but then I went to the spa, ate a nice meal. You know,enjoying my quiet time while I still can.” Her palm smooths over her belly.
“Still hard to believe there’s a whole-ass human growing in there.”
“I know, right?” She peers up at me. “What about you?”
I frown. “What about me?”
“You know … What about kids?”
“Uh …” Not a subject I’ve broached with anyone since Tasha, and now it’s been twice in one day? “Yeah, one day, I guess. I’m so far away from that, though.”
“Maybe notthat far,” she challenges. “I mean, Sloane’s in the picture now, right?”
“Jesus, Red. I just met her.” I chuckle. “What did you two talk about yesterday?”
“Nothing! Just, you know, stuff.” She twirls a strand of her red hair between her fingertips.
It’s a dead giveaway when she’s nervous. “You’re acting squirrelly.”
“Am I? I guess it’s just my hormones? I go from laughing to crying in, like, seconds. Sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out with that question. I just have baby on the brain.”
