“Don’t play dumb with me, kid. You may have everyone else fooled with your happy go lucky act but not me. I know you’re lonely.”
I shoot daggers at him. “Don’t you dare presume to know what I’m feeling.”
He’s right. Of course, he’s right. I told you the government had perfected mind reading! Because there’s no other way he could possibly know about the gut-churning loneliness I’m feeling. I cover it up entirely too well with my jokes and klutziness. Confession – I’m not as klutzy as you might think. But he shouldn’t know it!
My daggers have no effect on Wally. I mentally add sharpening my daggers to my to-do list. “Don’t you dare presume I’m like all the other schmucks you have fooled.”
Oh, goodie. A distraction. “Who are you calling a schmuck? You’re not calling your brothers-in-arms schmucks, are you?”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re not going to divert me from the issue here.”
Damn it. He’s on to me. “What is the subject?” If I can’t distract, I’ll delay.
He leans forward in his chair and places his elbows on his thighs. He narrows his eyes on me before answering. “You know darn well what the subject is. But before you act all innocent again, I’ll remind you. If you give Grayson a chance – a real chance – I’ll do your background check.”
“Grayson doesn’t want a chance. We’re friends. Nothing more.”
But we want to give Grayson a chance, my inner voice reminds me. I call her Adult Suzie because she’s always pushing me to act like a grown-up, something I have no intention of ever doing. But then Little Susan joins in on the act. Yeah! We want to make the sweet love to him. Since when does Little Susan speak with a Spanish accent? I shake my head to try and force all the crazy thoughts out.
Wally only stares at me in response. And stares. And stares. Until I burst out with another lie, “There’s no chemistry between us!”
He tilts his head back and laughs. He laughs and laughs until he has to wipe his eyes free of his tears of laughter.
“I don’t know what’s funny.” And I’m back to lying.
“What’s funny is you thinking no one can see the chemistry between you and Grayson. A blind person could see the electricity jolting back and forth between you two.”
They can? “Doesn’t matter. We have agreed to be friends, nothing more. Neither one of us is looking for a relationship.”
“How do you know Grayson isn’t looking for a relationship?”
“Hello! You were sitting right across the table from him when he said he isn’t ready for a relationship.” I pause. Have things changed from when we had that particular conversation? “Did Grayson tell you otherwise?”
“No. But your curiosity is a dead give away.”
And I fell for it. Ugh. “Doesn’t matter,” I repeat. “I am not looking for a relationship.”
And I’m not. My body may want to tangle in the sheets with him, but my head knows better. I’ve learned my lesson. Men are extremely dangerous to your health and should be avoided at all costs.
Wally shrugs. “You’ve heard my terms. What is your response?”
“I do not accept.” I stand. “Thank you for listening to me. I’ll see myself out.”
I stomp through the living room and yank open the front door. I’m annoyed. How dare Wally deny me? He’s supposed to support me. Uncles are supposed to help you out when your own father isn’t on your side. Hasn’t he read the manual?
“Wait!” he calls after me, but I don’t stop.
If I do, I’ll probably break down and cry. And how embarrassing would that be? No. Happy-go-lucky Suzie does not cry. At least not in public. I practically run to my car. As I’m starting my ignition, I look up and see Wally standing on his porch with his arms crossed over his chest. He does not look happy. He’s not the only one.
I’ll figure out another way to find out what’s bothering Grayson. Trust me. I can badger like no one’s business. How do you think Phoebe and Hailey ended up happily in romantic relationships? Without me, they’d both be single and miserable. I got this.