Page 34 of Prospecting

Leaning forward, he kissed her, took her plate and left her. “Hey,” she said. “That’s cheating.”

“You’re complaining because I’m cooking and cleaning up,” he said.

Laughing, she said, “No, I’m not.”

“How’s the pain,” he asked as he cleaned up, put food away, put dishes in the washer.

“Worst of it’s gone,” she said. “Ankle’s throbbing.”

“I need to wrap it,” he said. “You are not walking on it for a few days.”

“You are fussing over me,” she said.

“Not used to it,” he asked. He brought the wrap for her ankle.

“I guess not,” she said. “Not since my grandmother passed.”

“Your parents don’t fuss over you,” he asked keeping his face neutral.

“It always seemed like Mia needed more attention,” Sheridan said. She gripped his shirt tight as he jiggled her ankle.

“Sorry,” he said. He wasn’t sure whether it was because of the ankle or her parents.

“You have to make sure it’s tight,” she said leaning forward she kissed him.

“Yeah,” he said.

***

“Hi Mia. How’s Frannie,” Sheridan asked.

“Tappn has her,” Mia said. “She was being fractious.”

“What do you mean,” Sheridan asked.

“Making too much noise,” Mia said.

“She’s a baby, babies fuss and make noise,” Sheridan said careful to make sure her tone wasn’t too critical.

“Ignore me,” Mia said tears filling her eyes. “I have one of my headaches.”

“Have you figured out what you’re going to do,” Sheridan asked.

“You too,” Mia snapped. “Dad’s always nagging me. Calli has a job open. They want me to take it. I have the baby. It’s too much.”

“They have a crèche,” Sheridan said.

“How do you know what it’s like,” Mia snapped. “All you have to do is spread your legs and you get what you want.”

Sheridan felt like Mia slapped her. “What exactly are you saying,” she said coldly.

“You landed in a nice place, didn’t you,” Mia said. “You get all the sex you want and a steady paycheck. All you have to do is fuck him.”

“I think we should change the topic,” Sheridan said. “Has Frannie taken her first steps yet?”

“I don’t want to talk about the brat,” Mia said. She rubbed her head. “I’m going. I should have known you wouldn’t understand.”

“Explain it to me,” Sheridan said patiently.

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