Page 23 of The Marriage Bid
“Business. Same as you. Listen. I am only offering because we came together; otherwise, I am more than happy to leave you on the side road. Seb wouldn’t like it. I, on the other hand, could not give a damn about you.”
She glanced at the road, then on her phone. She knew I was right. Antonio might offer her a ride into town, but I didn’t want that to happen less than her getting into a ride-sharing car. She sighed and shoved her phone back into her purse. I suppressed a smile as she went to the car.
Saffron closed the door on her side of the car after she entered and faced straight ahead, deliberately not looking at me. The air conditioner in the interior wafted down my body, cooling my skin as Saffron’s jasmine and rose scent filled my nostrils, hardening my groin. My driver started the car, and we were on the road back to the city. It was a quiet and awkward journey. Saffron kept to her phone while the two men in front dared not attempt a conversation between them or with me. It was onlywhen we were halfway along that she said, “What were you doing here exactly?”
I knew what she meant. There were very few businesses in these parts except for leather factories and other similar companies.
“I told you; I have business here.”
“Around these parts?”
“No, in the city. I came to sign off on a deal with an architectural company. Now that it is done, I thought I would look in on you.”
She snorted. “You thought I didn’t know how to take care of myself.”
“No. But I thought you’d like a ride. And I was right, wasn’t I?” I leaned back on the headrest and closed my eyes, ending the conversation. I didn’t want her to probe further into my true motivations, which, frankly, I myself didn’t understand. Why the fuck did I go an hour out of my way to follow her?
“Weirdo,” I heard her say.
Saffron was the first to get out of the car when we arrived at the hotel. Before I could stop her, she mumbled a thanks, and I was left to follow her. She jumped into the elevator before I could catch up with her, and when I finally got onto our floor, Saffron had already entered her room. I knocked on her door to no response.
I sent her a text.
Me: Are you running from me?
Saff the Epoxy Wife: Yes
Me: Ouch
Saff the Epoxy Wife: For someone who thinks I am a stalker. You’re obsessed with me.
Me: I want to talk to you.
Saff the Epoxy Wife: Eat shit, Tyler
Me: I want to apologize.
She took forever to respond, and for a moment, I thought she had ignored the message. But then, her door opened. “There she is,” I said, my voice echoing in the silent hallway.
Saffron rolled her eyes. “If this is a ploy to—”
“No. I really want to apologize for the way I treated you the other day. I shouldn’t have called you a stalker. That was rude of me. I don’t know what I was thinking. Seeing you—you fuck up my brain sometimes, you know?”
“And that’s my problem, how?”
“I’m not blaming you! I didn’t expect to see you at my sister’s bakery. You have a tendency of popping up in places I least expect.”And wrecking my composure in the process.
Saffron did not look convinced.
“And I want to apologize for my behavior at the site. I was a dick.”
“Fine. Apology accepted.” She stepped back and was about to close the door when I put my foot between the door and the door frame.
“Tyler!”
A cleaner pushing a cart strolled past, momentarily distracting her. I took the opportunity to enter her room.
“What the fuck!”
