Page 44 of Wild Love
I showerand wait outside of Dakota’s apartment for her to get off work. I bring Charli as a backup. She can’t say no to Charli.
When she steps out of the elevator, I push off the wall and wait for her to come at me, fists flying.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone has lost all the anger, but she isn’t happy to see me either.
She opens the apartment, and I follow her inside.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
“Yes, you should have.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the kitchen counter.
“I knew you wouldn’t take the job if you had any idea that I’d arranged it. And I wanted you to take the job.”
“I get that you think you were doing me a favor, but now all I can think about is how I didn’t earn this job.”
“You did, though. Elyse offered you the job, remember?”
“No one will believe that. You should have seen the way Quinn looked at me today. I want my talent to stand on its own.”
“And it will. I am just providing the opportunity.”
“I can’t stay, but since I have already cost you money with the move and apartment, I spent the day working on concepts for your endorsement photo shoot. I emailed them to you. I have no idea if any of the ideas are feasible, but it should be a start for whoever you get to take my place.”
She starts toward her bedroom. I follow her. So does Charli. She’s a loyal little creature, and she knows something is up.
“Let me buy you dinner to make it up to you.”
“You think buying me something else is going to fix this?” The scowl on her face tells me no. “I’m going for a run. I need to clear my head.”
She shuts herself in the walk-in closet.
I don’t know how to make this right. Think, Johnny, think.
I haven’t come up with anything when she steps out dressed in her running clothes.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before. I wanted to, but I also really wanted you to take the job.”
Her glare softens only slightly.
“I was trying to do you a favor. That’s true, but it’s because I really believe you’re the best person for the job.”
She grabs her phone and ear pods.
I shadow her back out of her room and through the apartment. She says nothing as she leaves for her run.
“Stay,” I tell Charli. I’m not dressed for a run, but I’ll keep up with her step for step, for as long as it takes to make her understand.
She’s halfway down the stairs to the lobby. Damn, she’s fast. I can’t lose her. I have to fix this. I take the stairs three at a time. They’re an odd size and curve around. I’m almost to the bottom when I lose my footing. I jump the rest of the way and catch myself by ramming the left side of my body into the wall.
She glances back at the commotion. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
Her gaze flicks to my leg as I put weight on it and limp forward, still trying to get to her. I rub at the outside of my knee. Fuck, that hurt.
“You’re not fine. Sit down.” She points to the bench in the lobby.
