Page 75 of Your Last First Kiss
“Aster did. Eddy and I share the land, so we split it. I was late with mine this month. That’s why he went to Lochlan’s hotel in the first place.”
“Penny.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “When was the first increase?”
Mari wiggles in the baby carrier, and I adjust her with a hand under her little bum. “Ah, I’m not sure. I’d have to check. About six months ago, maybe? Aster told me Remy came by, and she relayed the message.”
“Fuckers. The both of them. From now on, make your payments directly to Remy. I don’t care what Eddy says. Okay?”
“What’s going on?” That unease in my stomach sizzles up my spine until I think the nausea might win.
“Pen, I help Remy with the books. I know for a fact he hasn’t increased your rate. Ever.”
My head spins like I might pass out, and I grab hold of his arm to keep upright. How could I have been so stupid? Shouldn’t I know better than to trust them?
The phone rings next to the TV, but it barely registers. When I make no effort to move, Miller reaches down to answer it. It’s another sign that I’m not thinking clearly.
“Hello? Yeah,” he says, and I move closer, trying to hear who it is. “For how long?”
“Who is it?” I mouth.
“Then what?” He turns his back on me, but I walk around him to face him. He spins again to get away from me.
“What the hell, Miller?” I whisper-yell, then tug on the hair elastic that’s always been my nervous habit.
“Are you sure?”
I wave in front of his face, and he once again spins away from me. I stomp my foot, and Mari gives a disgruntled baby cry but settles quickly.
“Make damn sure you know what you’re doing before you come back here. There’s no turning back once you do this,” he mutters.
Silence.
“Fine.” I watch in irritation as he replaces the phone.
“Seriously, what the hell, Mill? Who was that? What did they say? Who is doing what?”
“It was Dillon.”
That’s it. That’s all he says.
“Why did he call the house phone? Why didn’t he call me? Where is he?” Each question has my voice pitching higher. “Is—is he okay?”
Miller nods abruptly twice. “He lost his phone in the scuffle. I have to go dig through the snow for it.” He turns to look me in the eyes. Really looks me in the eyes, then says, “He’s on his way back to New York.”
My mouth opens, and my lungs seize like I’m drowning. I can’t get any breath in or out. “Oh,” I finally whisper.
I knew it was coming. I’ve told him all along my life is too messy. Too complicated. Too much. I’m too much. Isn’t that what Eddy always used to say?
“Right,” I nod. Blink. Then nod again. But I’m not really looking at anything as my eyes blur. “That makes sense. Get home before the next storm sets in. I—I’ll have to thank him for his help on Wednesday.”
My stomach plummets to my toes like I took a punch to my gut, and I can’t catch my breath.
Wednesday.
Oh, no. I can’t see him on Wednesday.
“Miller, I—I can’t see him at work. Not after what happened in my bathroom. Not after what he saw here. Oh my God. What have I done?”
“Sit down,” Miller commands.
