Page 46 of Devoured

“I don’t care.”

Ian was the worst employee in the history of employees. “Are you even going to ask me why I was hunched over on the floor?”

“I saw.”

I just stared at him. “You saw all of it?”

“And I heard it too.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn’t really care that he was aware of my kink of Penny calling me Professor Hunter. But I didn’t love the fact that he was watching me so closely. Not when my life was unraveling around me. I pictured him eating popcorn and laughing at the footage. Or masturbating to it. Yeah, I didn’t like that at all.

“You lied to her,” Ian said. “Penny left because you lied. So don’t sit here and feel sorry for yourself.”

“I didn’t lie.”

Ian put his hands on my shoulders. And it reminded me so much of when Rob used to do it. I was glad Rob was visiting soon. I missed him. I missed the way we used to be. I thought about Mason and Matt too. I missed the way we all used to be. Before everything broke.

“James, we both know you didn’t willingly sleep with Isabella. She…”

I pushed him off me before he could finish his sentence.

Ian sighed. “You can’t keep lying to yourself. Who is it helping?”

“Me. It’s helping me.”

He shook his head. “You have a visitor arriving in just a minute.”

“The pizza guy?” That was a weird way to describe him.

“No.”

“Oh. Rob’s finally here?”Perfect timing.We could go out and get drunk. I would have asked Ian to go to a bar with me, but he’d seen me at my worst the past couple weeks. And he’d stopped being fun. Day drinking wasn’t going to be on his approved list of activities. He was acting more like a father than a friend. And he definitely wasn’t acting like an employee. Or else he’d listen to me more.

“No, Rob’s not here yet. At least, not that I know of.”

Really, when was Rob coming? I hated when things were up in the air. Why did he insist on spontaneity when I needed structure? “Well, I don’t know anyone else.”

Ian folded his arms across his chest. “You’re going to want to fire me. But you’ll thank me later.”

I lowered my eyebrows as I stared at him. “What did you do?”

“What’s best for you.”

“What did you do?” I repeated. But I had a sinking feeling.Please don’t say Dr. Clark is on his way here.

Chapter 12

Saturday

“James you were there for me when I needed you,” Ian said. “I don’t care if you want to sit on the floor for the rest of the day. But you will get back up. And you will keep going. Because that’s the only option.”

That wasn’t the only option. I could hurl myself out the window and onto Main Street below. It would make the pain stop.

“And I already know what you’re thinking. That’s why you have a visitor coming.”

I glared at Ian. “You didnotinvite Dr. Clark to my home.”

“You need help, James.”

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