Page 14 of Where It All Began
“If you’re not interested, then I’m not seeing a problem.” Michael enjoyed a challenge whether it was poured into a pair of hip-hugging jeans or it had two clenched fists like John did currently.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested.”
“That’s right. You didn’t.” Michael grinned.
John thought about decking him and decided he didn’t want to deal with the blood and the whining.
Michael held up his hands in surrender. “Gotta say, I’m relieved, man. A guy names his pet cow after his high school girlfriend and his friends are bound to worry a bit.”
John’s muttered curse had Michael throwing his head back and laughing. “Don’t worry, dude. I’ll spread the word. Phoebe is off-limits, and John Pierce isn’t losing his damn mind.”
“Thanks, asshole,” John muttered.
“See you at the meeting?” Michael asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“You bringing Phoebe?”
Taking a page out of his charge’s book, John tossed a middle finger over his shoulder as he stalked away.
Unfazed, Cardona whistled his way out of the store, and John set about making things right with Phoebe. He owed her an apology and an explanation. Neither of which would be easy.
She was listening to another song through headphones nearly the size of her head. The store owner, Linus Fitzsimmons, had given her a lollipop that she was enjoying with her music. She jumped when he laid a hand on her shoulder. With reluctance, Phoebe pulled off the headphones.
“I’m not apologizing,” she announced.
He blinked. “Okay.”
“Okay.” She nodded dismissively and made a move to put the headphones back on. But John yanked the plug out of the machine.
“Not done yet.”
“Three one-syllable words in a row. Is this some kind of record?”
He felt the corner of his eye twitch and pressed his fingers to the spot. “You drive me insane.”
“Back at you.” She crossed her arms, assuming a defensive position.
“I owe you an apology. I haven’t been welcoming or friendly or cooperative, and I’m sorry.”
She eyed him with suspicion. “I don’t want to leave. Not without getting what I came for.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
“If you want me gone, the only way to accomplish that is to cooperate.”
John scratched absently at the base of his neck. “Yeah, I’m starting to get that, too.”
“So, you’ll cooperate?” One eyebrow arched as if in challenge.
“I’ll do my best.” It was as close to a promise as he could make.
“What exactly annoys you about me so much?” she asked suddenly.
“A lot of things.”
She plucked the lollipop out of her mouth. “Gee, thanks.”
