Page 12 of Phishing for Love
He gives me an affectionate squeeze. “How about dinner tomorrow night then? I’ve got an upscale place in mind so dress up.”
I rest my cheek against his chest. “Sounds good.” Sounds like the perfect antidote to Aaron’s trail of poisonous disruption. Am I being dramatic? Possibly. But today was an out-of-the-ordinary dramatic day and there’s only one person I hold responsible for that.
CHAPTER FOUR
As I drive the familiar route to my parents’ house, I’m unable to shake the unsettled sensation that has gripped me ever since Nathan showed up at my work. I can’t blame his unexpected visit as he often drops in to say hello. We work in the same building; his company is on the fifth floor, mine’s on the third. Nathan’s also on friendly terms with most of my coworkers—except for Sofia, funnily enough. I attribute their mutual dislike of one another to a personality clash, but at times I wonder if that’s too simplistic an explanation. When I confront either of them about it, they tend to simply shrug off my concerns.
I pull up to a stoplight and buzz open my window, welcoming the gentle blast of spring-scented air. Maybe I’m feeling unsettled because of that intense and surreal moment between Aaron and me. Not that anything happened, I hasten to reassure my conscience, which has jumped instantly to attention. Nathan and I are solid. We’ve been seeing each other for a year and our relationship is moving at a steady, comfortable pace.
It’s just... What on earth took place in that moment? One second I was teasing Aaron with my trusty old boots, the next second he was pinning me in place with his eyes and... No, no, there is noand. There is only an annoying man with his annoyingly handsome features.
Guilt stirs in my chest. I feel a little disloyal even giving Aaron a second look. Nathan is just as good-looking in a boyish kind of way with his wavy blond hair that flops endearingly over his forehead, his earnest brown eyes.
Interestingly, Nathan was full of questions about Aaron.How long is his contract at Amell Greetings?Six months.Where is he staying?I don’t know.Is he married?No idea. It was also flattering how affectionate Nathan acted in the immediate aftermath of that brief encounter with Aaron. Normally, he’s not comfortable with displays of affection at work, but he kept touching me in a way I could only label as territorial. It was flattering, but also irritating.
I turn into my parents’ driveway and park, filled with a resolve to not dwell anymore on Aaron and Nathan. Honestly, my mind is exhausting sometimes.
Easing out my car, I lift my face to the sun. I love days like this, where the air is almost syrupy and the sky looks as if it’s brushed with Monet shades of blue.
My mom opens the front door, wearing her favorite cream cardigan and chinos. Happiness lights up her face when she sees me. She sounded so surprised and pleased when I phoned earlier to say I was dropping by, since I don’t usually see my parents during the week. She loves it when Kate and I visit. Come to think of it, she loves all sorts of visitors. It’s disturbing to think that if an escaped convict showed up at her door, she’d no doubt be delighted at the opportunity to entertain.
On the front porch, Mom pulls me in for a hug. She’s a hugger, my mother, which I don’t mind at all. In fact, I feel sort of twitchy and glum when a week’s gone by without one of her soul-soothing hugs.
She ushers me inside and my eyes dart around the entrance hall.
“Kate’s not here,” she tells me.
I relax instantly.
Mom chuckles, and there’s a tinge of sadness to it. “Come on, she’s your sister. She’s not so bad to be around.”
I don’t want to upset her, so I’m forced to lie. “I guess.” If you don’t mind the company of a drill sergeant who thinks fun is a subversive enemy attempting to infiltrate your family.
“You know, Kate might seem tough, but underneath that hard shell is a small, scared girl.”
I stare at my mom in disbelief. “Did that revelation come after one too many glasses of wine?”
She swats my shoulder playfully. “Don’t be sassy.” Her tone turns serious. “Watch out for her, Tess. Please.”
“I will.” I’ll do it because I trust my mom, but it’s my belief she has a blind spot when it comes to her eldest child.
“Anyway, this is a lovely surprise,” Mom says, changing the subject as we head to the kitchen. “Don’t you usually spend Wednesday nights with Sofia and Kenzie?”
“Yeah, but Matt has a work function tonight and partners are invited. Sofia doesn’t want to miss out on the dancing and free food.”
“That woman knows how to embrace life,” she says with an approving smile. “What about Kenzie?”
“She went home with a migraine.”
“Ah, poor thing.”
When my mother heard how Sofia and Kenzie looked after me in my first week at Amell Greetings, showing me the ropes and shielding me from Calvin’s legendary temper, she unofficially adopted the two of them as her own. In turn, they both adore her, referring to her as Second Mom.
“We ate a big lunch earlier,” Mom says. “It’s just sandwiches tonight, I’m afraid.”
I wave that away. “Sandwiches are fine. I’m not all that hungry anyway.”
“Hey, Google,” I hear my grandmother ask, “what’s the weather like?”
