Page 104 of Grease Monkey
“Honestly, Teddy, stop letting rage fuel you and think for a second. If it was to come out that Ana’s parents threatened the livelihood of their daughter’s working-class boyfriend, a class which the majority of his voters happen to fall into, do you think he would win the election? Play her at her own game, Teddy. Say you’ll sell your story if she wants to get between you two. Pretty sure Ana’s dad’s opponent will spin the shit out of that.”
I grip either side of Ozzy’s face and smack my lips against his. He shoves me off, dramatically wiping at his mouth.
“I don’t know where that mouth has been, you dirty fucker.”
“That wasn’t what you were saying each time you tried to kiss me before.” I grin because, damn it, my best friend is a genius, and for the first time, I let a tiny seed of hope bury in my stomach. “Honestly, Ozzy, when the hell did you become so smart?”
He pushes my shoulder. “I have my moments when my boy needs me. Now, what are you still doing standing here with me? Go get your girl.”
Chapter Forty-one
Morgana
Morgana:Teddy, please talk to me. I need to know you’re okay.
Morgana:I get it. I fucked up. I should never have listened to her, but the thought of her doing something to your family, to you… If I could go back and do it differently, I still wouldn’t. I won’t apologize for keeping you safe.
Morgana:For fuck’s sake, Teddy, please just let me know you’re okay. I’m worried.
With my hangover well and truly gone, the dread filling my stomach is for Teddy. He stormed out in such a fury, driving anywhere in his mental state is not safe. As fifteen-minute intervals pass one after the other, and my texts go unanswered, my worry goes into overdrive. It’s dark now, and he could be anywhere. Got himself into an accident. Or lying somewhere in a ditch, unconscious, bleeding out, lungs punctured, and all because he found out the truth.
He’s fine, Morgana. If something happened, you’d know by now.
But would I? The only other person I know is Ozzy, and it’s not like now after we slept together, I’d suddenly be on his emergency contact list. I need to calm down. My overactive imagination isnotdoing me any good right now.
My phone buzzes on the table, and I snatch it up in a panic, almost dropping it in my haste but groan when it’s not him.
Shay:Hope you guys aren’t killing each other over there. I managed to talk myself into a new wine bar soft launch. Won’t be back till later. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do*wink emoji*
I send a quick reply and hide my phone between the couch cushions, anything to stop me from constantly checking for a reply or turning into a stage-five clinger who won’t leave him alone. Switching on the TV, I choose something I don’t end up watching, the actors’ faces are a blur, the storyline a dull din as my head replays the morning. Since arriving in Phoenix, I couldn’t have told you Teddy’s true feelings toward me; his hot and cold treatment was so hard to judge until I was standing right in front of him, and even then I’d have to wait to see what version I’d get when he spoke to me. But now… the hurt in his dark eyes, the hardness of his jaw, his knuckles slowly whitening as I kept talking. I’ve never seen so many emotions, all dancing the gray line of hatred, written on one person’s face.
Three heavy knocks on my door have me jumping up from the sofa and rushing to answer it. He’s come back. Those knocks were too light to be Shay’s.
“Oh, thank God,” I say, throwing open the door. I thought he’d come back; we still have so much left unsaid, but my head and heart are as irrational as each other because the person standing in the hallway isn’t the person I want to see most. “Richard? Hi?”
“Expecting someone else?” He chuckles, walking over the threshold and kissing my mouth hard and fast. He wraps an arm behind me and pulls me into his chest. “Surprised, sweetheart? Oh, this is cozy.”
I’m speechless as he drops his hold and strolls around the apartment in about three strides, his face composed so as not to give away anything, but as Teddy can read me, I can read Richard. He disapproves.
“For how much profit your company made last year, you’d think they could have got slightly better accommodations for you.”
Shutting the door, I regard the rental in the same way he had, trying to find the faults apparent to him the second he walked through the door. But I don’t see any. All I see is a quaint open-plan, one-bed, with minimalistic décor and enough natural light that you feel like you are outside. “I like it. It’s homely.”
His arm circles my waist, tugging me into his side, completely unaware of how tense my muscles are under his touch.
“Homely is the nice six-bedroom house you will move into once we’re married, sweetheart. This… this barely qualifies as student accommodation.”
I shrug out of his hold and step into the kitchen, busying myself by opening a cupboard and pulling out a glass. “Do you want a drink? Something to eat? You must be exhausted after traveling.” I peer into my empty fridge. “Sorry, I don’t have much. I didn’t know you were coming. If I did, I would have gone out to the grocery store. Made sure I had your favorites oranythingfor you to eat…”
I’m rambling, and Richard knows it as he looks at me in amusement and comes to join me, wrapping his arms around me once more and bringing me into his chest. Was he always this touchy-feely? His hold feels wrong, and I want him to let me go, to give me space, but he dips his head and presses his lips to mine. I close my eyes, blocking out the immense shame that slams into me as I wish it were Teddy’s lips on me more than anything.
“Is it too much for your fiancé to come all this way because he missed you?” he asks, breaking the kiss and brushing the flyaway strands of hair from my ponytail away from my face. “Why do you insist on wearing your hair like this, darling? It doesn’t suit your face.”
Why don’t you wear your hair off your face, sweetheart?
Why do you insist on wearing your hair like this, darling?
Why are the two people who are meant to love me unconditionally, always wanting to change me?
