“Are you sure? If not, I’m sure I can ask someone else, honey.”
“The guys have meetings today. They’re all busy. Plus, I know the layout.”
“Well then, let me get my things together, and we can go.”
Diana nods to me, then stops. “Which one are you?”
“Gunner.” I offer her my hand.
She takes it, and her thumb strokes my wrist before she lets go. “Quickly, Sophie. I don’t want to steal you for too long.”
They both leave, and I sit there for a moment, not exactly sure what to do with myself. That’s the ex-wife? The one that Miles rarely talked about? He’d mentioned that she was overprotective and jealous, that he couldn’t go too long without checking in, or she’d assume he went AWOL with some other chick.
But she’s so self-assured, and clearly, on the prowl, not exactly the eager wife type I’m used to.
It’s not my business. The further away I stay from that whole mess, the better. I still have Miles himself to worry about, considering I have yet to open the texts he sent or deal with the voice mail.
His temper is a quick burn – it runs so hot and intense that he gets burnt out in the best of times, let alone while sick. But I wonder if it will linger because of Sophie. I’m sure that if any one of us goes with her to the hospital, he’ll point out every slight touch, every look, every …
“I can’t go with her,” I say to myself.
It’ll make it worse on her considering how impossible it is for me to not look at her, to avoid touching her. I don’t know the meaning of the word “behave” when it comes to Sophie … unless she’s in tears apparently.
“Fuck!” I curse.
My door creaks open, and the nervous temp peeks his head in. “Is everything okay, sir?”
I sigh and rest my elbows on my desk. “Yeah, kid. It’s just one of those days.”
“Oh … okay. Would you like me to order you lunch?”
“Sure. From that Indian place on Main.”
“You got it.” He shuts my door and powerwalks away to take care of it.
At least that’s taken care of, and I don’t have to worry about him fucking shit up, considering he wants to be hired on full time. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I feel a migraine coming on.
I got Sophie last night. We hid things from Miles before Italy … so now we just have to hide what we’re doing from Sophie’s mom … who doesn’t have a job here, doesn’t work late, and is obviously more in tune with her daughter.
It’s just a harder level, that’s all. Nothing to worry about.
My work phone rings, and I pick up without looking. Miles’ voice cracks across the line like a whip. “Be at the hospital today … as soon as you get off work.”
Fuck times two.