Page 93 of Playing A Risk
As I rush to the exit, Jonah catches my attention, hovering over Melanie’s cubicle. She stands and we make eye contact. She glares and shakes her head, causing Jonah to turn to me. He stares blankly my way.
I don’t have time to decipher what’s going on with them. I take off, working my arms into my coat as I take two steps at a time toward the main level. My shoulder rams into the metal door, forcing it open to the lobby. She’s almost to the doors, so I sprint to catch up.
I reach her right in time to open the glass doors that lead outside. “I made it. So will you keep your word?”
She growls through clenched teeth. “I’m not the one who lies in this relationship.”
I raise a brow, about to call bullshit for not sharing that she was dating her boss, but I decide to give her a pass. Pointing that out will only set her off.
We spend the first block walking in silence. She stares forward with a scowl.
I glance at her multiple times, but I can’t make my words come out over the lump of guilt lodged in my throat. Even though I’ve gone through this conversation repeatedly in my head, I’m still unsure how to start.
When we get stopped by a light, so we can’t cross the street, I turn her way. “Happy New Year.”
“Yeah, you too.” She jams her hands into her swing coat pockets. “How was bringing in the New Year with your son? Did he keep you up, or did he sleep through the night?”
The muscles in my chest instantly flex. Her comments are enough to trigger the fuck out of me.
I want to scream at her, but I hold back. “Dori, you’re out of line. Stop before you make a complete ass out of yourself.”
She spins to me. “I’m out of line? And now you’re mad? Wow, Jami. You never cease to surprise me.”
I huff and shake my head. “If I didn’t care about you like I do, I’d be walking away and letting you figure this shit out on your own. But no, I’ll take it just so you get the information you’ve needed to know since you took the coward’s way out and slipped out my door that night without getting all your facts straight.”
Yeah, I probably took it too far, but her saying something about me bringing in the New Year with my deceased son is just too much to take. I grind my teeth together so I don’t say anything more I’ll regret. My chest heaves as I take calming breaths.
She steps back and stares all wide-eyed, like I’ve slapped her. Something in her expression tells me she finally realizes there’s a lot more to this situation than she ever imagined. Maybe it’s because I’m glaring at her like I’m about to lay into her more than I already have.
“Ms. Fisher. Is this man bothering you?” A guy in a dark overcoat steps up to us as we wait at the stoplight.
She tears her eyes from me to him. “Uh…no. Please, is this really needed?”
I give him a once over. “Who the fuck is this guy?”
“Jami, stop.” She faces the man. “Trey, can you give us some space?”
He dips his chin and backs away. I’m still analyzing the guy when the light signals it’s time for us to walk. Dori’s off without a word.
I hurry my pace to get to her. “Care to explain why you have some henchman trailing you?”
“No. This night is all about you and your explanations. I’ll decide later if I want to tell you about him.”
“Fine.” I take the hint and regroup as we make our way to her loft.
Once we get inside and this Trey guy is stationed at her front door, I take off my coat and wait for her to invite me totake a seat. She takes her time getting changed and organizing her work.
She’s not going to make this easy on me.
My gaze sweeps around her place. She’s got a suitcase thrown open on the top of her bed. It’s a good icebreaker.
“I see you’re in the middle of unpacking. Did you go anywhere worth sharing?”
She stomps over to the case and slams the lid shut. “That’s none of your business. And if you don’t start talking, I’m going to ask you to leave.”
“Can we at least sit down and do this like two mature adults?”
“Fine, Jami. Would you like to take a seat so you can tell me why you decided to keep some of the most important information of your personal life from me for months?” She plants her hands on her hips.
