Page 51 of Bourbon Bliss
He was on his hands and knees, checking around the small TV stand. “What?”
“You signed a number of papers. I’m wondering what they were.”
“Oh, I’m not sure exactly. There’s been a lot of paperwork as I transition from being on the active roster to retirement. There’s the pension, and insurance changes—things like that. Andrea has it all organized for me.”
“But you shouldn’t sign things you haven’t read.”
“It’s fine, June Bug. I pay Andrea to read it for me.”
That seemed like a shockingly terrible idea. “You can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“She didn’t even make sure Mellow had water.”
He paused, still on his hands and knees, and looked up at me. “What are you talking about?”
“Mellow’s water bottle was completely dry. Not just out of water. Dry, George. If she can’t be trusted to take proper care of that tiny, helpless bunny, how can you entrust her with things like contracts and your finances?”
“June, she’s worked for me for years.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t trust her.”
“You just met her. I don’t think you need to be making snap judgments about her based on one little mistake. She’s not an animal person.”
“I’m simply pointing out that if you’re going to put so much of your life, including your money, in a person’s hands, they ought to at least have the ability to care for an eighteen-ounce domesticated mammal.”
He stood and crossed his arms. “What’s this really about? Don’t tell me you’re going to pull the jealousy thing. I know Andrea’s pretty, but you don’t need to be like that.”
My eyes widened. Hearing him call herprettyfelt like a blow to the stomach. “I’m hardly envious. The woman’s not even smart enough to realize when a water bottle is empty. Besides, of the two women in this room, I wasn’t the one glaring.”
“Glaring? Andrea wasn’t glaring at you.”
“She most certainly was.”
“Well, you did call her out on the water being empty.”
“I pointed out a simple fact, and the well-being of your pet was at stake.”
“Oh my god, June,” he said. “Chill out about it. Mellow’s fine. Andrea wasn’t glaring at you. Why would she?”
I paused, blinking at him, and that bright and twisted knot of emotions throbbed deep inside my chest. Mentally stepping back, I separated myself from the tangled jumble so I could think.
It wasn’t the fact that Andrea had been giving me unfriendly glances that had my stomach hurting. And I had no reason to believe George was involved in a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with her. Jealousy wasn’t the cause of my current state of distress.
I didn’t like the way he was brushing my concerns aside, like he didn’t value my opinion. And it bothered me that his judgment seemed clouded. Was he so easily distracted by a pretty face? He himself had admitted his last girlfriend—maybe all his past girlfriends—had been with him for his money and fame. Why had he continued to associate with people like that? What did that say about him now?
And why didn’t he care that I was worried about him?
My lack of relationship experience felt like a glaring hole, huge and black. I didn’t like being in situations that made me feel inept. It was uncomfortable, and when I was uncomfortable, my first reaction was to retreat.
“I have to go.”
“Wait, June—”
I was out the door before he could finish.
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