Page 113 of The Fix

I wave him off even though he’s not paying any attention to me and head back to the kitchen where I left my phone.

“If I don’t let you get distracted, then you can get out of my house.”

He snickers. “Cuz across the hallway is so much different.”

“It very much is.”

After several more hours, a disappearing sun, and another meal delivered for the clearly starved bodyguard, I finally sit on my couch alone for the first time.

I didn’t eat. The takeout containers mock me from their perch on my countertop, the smell of grease permeates the air enough that I consider opening the infamous window Jonathon ensured was locked before he stalked his giant butt across the hallway.

My hand is in my hair, my legs curled beneath me in the soft glow from the lamp, and my apartment is put together. All except for the pile of memories laid out on the hardwood floor that I abandoned.

For now, I plan to keep it that way.

At least until the chaos of an untamed mess drives me madder than the thought of looking through them.

Knowing all this, I should be settling into my seat, pulling up my favorite sitcom, and calling it a night.

So why do I keep staring at my phone and hoping it rings?

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Toby

“Iswear to fucking God, if you don’t fucking tell me, I’m gonna tie guitar strings around your fingers until they fall off.”

Leo stares at me from across the seat of the rental I’m driving with an arch to his brow.

“You’re the one that let it slip she’s here. Now spill your guts, or I’m pulling over.”

“And do what?” His eyes roll. “Make me cry uncle?”

I nod, dead ass serious.

The man stays silent.

“For fuck’s sake, Le. I did all the bullshit you asked,” I growl. “I gave it time, kept my shit under control, and participated in all your marketing bullshit.” I switch my grip on the wheel when it creaks in protest. “If I don’t get my girl, and my axe in my hands, I’m gonna fucking choke you.”

Leo snorts and brushes his hands down his pressed shirt. “I can give you the latter, but the rest is not up to me. And it wasn’t marketing bullshit. It was your transition.”

“Well, I’m transitionized, okay? All good. Got a sponsor, go to meetings, and I haven’t touched a drop. Now call my woman.”

“Pretty sure you need to stop claiming her without even talking to her about it first.”

“If she’d answer my call, I would have already.”

“You understand what just came out of your mouth, right?”

It’s my turn to snort. “Yeah, yeah.” I release the wheel with one hand and smack at his elbow. “Pick up the phone.”

“You gotta turn here!” Leo jolts up in his seat, his arm stretched out to point at a street I drive by.

“Seriously?” I growl and readjust my grip on the wheel. “No warning?”

“If you’d get out of the Stone Age and use a fucking GPS like the rest of us, I wouldn’t need to give you damn directions.”

“Give me a break, dick. I spent most of my life not driving.”

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