Page 10 of One Last Time?
“Gilly needs his protein shake,” Abby replied, and we both looked at her.
Damn Gilly—Gilman Hawkins—my sister’s best friend who just happened to be the quarterback for The Centaurs. The two of them had gotten on my fucking nerves since the dawn of time. They’d always been like an old married couple, even when they were five. They were practically born together, but I recalled them being five and annoying to me because she’d chosen to play with him instead of me.
Just like now. I was clearly in need of help. And she had to take him his protein shake?
Mia shook her head at her and walked away, leaving us.
“What? You know he’s doing his extra training.” Abby narrowed her eyes at me.
“Abby, as the Lord liveth.” That was another one of Grandpa’s sayings. “You are my sister, and Gilly will have to fucking wait. I need you,” I snapped.
“God, okay. You’re such a drama queen. I don’t know why you’re so scared of Dad. Last week, he sent me flowers and a box of chocolates for doing so good at the press conference.”
Ugh. That was what I meant. Dad was as nice as pie to the rest of them.
Not to me though. I was sure that was the same day Dad had bitched at me for making our meeting run over and making him late for another meeting. He wouldn’t have even been late. He just liked to have his fifteen minutes before anything planned so he could prep. Instead of his fifteen minutes, he’d had thirteen.
The man was a real demon when it came to time keeping. That was how I knew he’d have my ass if I was late.
“I’m going to get ready.” I rushed away from her and hoped like hell today would be much better than yesterday.
* * *
It wasn’t.
And…maybe…
Just maybe I should have taken Abby’s advice and called in sick.
Bad enough that I ran into the office at five minutes past nine. I could have died from the worry over the time alone but possibly revived myself and respawned after the bitching I knew Dad would give me.
However…
I was certain that five minutes must have shifted me into some alternate dimension. Or possiblyThe Twilight Zone. That was the only place I knew where very strange things happened.
As I rushed through Dad’s opened door, I was greeted by his angry face, but who I saw sitting in the office chair in front of his grand mahogany desk was none other than the guy from last night.
Mr. Gorgeous!
Mr. Gorgeous from last night, who just happened to look better than a billion dollars in his suit. Today’s vision of him made last night look like chopped liver, and last night he’d looked FHM Sexiest Man Alive gorgeous.
Today, he looked like he’d just stepped off the set of some Hollywood film where he was the heartthrob every woman alive would swoon over, and he had the mysterious bad boy vibe that reminded me a lot of James Dean.
This man was here…
Here in the office with Dad, and shit, I was staring.
Thank you very much, universe.
This was exactly how much worse the day could get. I got the feeling there was more though. The air was pregnant with tension the way it was before a storm.
“Taylor, do you plan on joining us, or are you just going to stand there and make us even later than we already are?” Dad asked.
My gaze snapped right back to him, and I rushed up to the empty chair next to Mr. Gorgeous, who I just had to steal a glance at again. It was my brain checking if he was real just like it did last night.
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry,” I apologized and swallowed hard. “There was a … situation I had to take care of.”
Situation… I sensed Mr. Gorgeous tense next to me. He was well aware of my situation because he was part of it. He just wouldn’t have known that I overslept. Wouldn’t be hard to figure out though.
