Page 132 of Double Play

“I’m homesick. I’ve never been without you guys for Thanksgiving. And I miss Layton so much. He’s upset with me. I know how much seeing photos of me with Butch is hurting him. I hate it, but I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do. It’s out of my control. If I could get out of my contract, I would. He knows this.”

“We’ll see him tonight. I’ll talk to him about it. I’m sure he knows how much you care for him. He misses you.”

“Thank you for flying in. I want him to have a special day.”

“It wasn’t easy to get away again, but you ask for so little, we couldn’t deny you this.”

“Do you think I’m crazy for missing him so much? It’s notlike we’ve been together that long. Did we get too intense, too fast?”

“Time doesn’t matter. You’re in love. You don’t like to be away from him. That’s normal. Why do you think I work with your father?”

“I guess I’ve never asked why you work with him. It’s all I‘ve ever known.”

“I didn’t at first. As you know, I was a teacher for many years. Your father was married to his job. I rarely saw him. I made the decision that if I couldn’t beat him, I’d join him. Now we get to spend our days together.”

I never thought of it that way. She works with him so she can be with him. It’s kind of sweet.

“That’s why you work all those crazy hours? Because you want to be with Dad?”

“It is.”

“You missed so much for Quincy and me growing up. All to be with him?”

“Yes, I missed a few daytime activities here and there, which killed me. But he needed me at the store. I ran the business for him. I never missed anything of yours in the evenings. That was my hard line with him. We had dinner together every single night. I was a working woman, Arizona. I’d think you of all people would respect that. If I remained a teacher, I wouldn’t have had my days off either.”

“I suppose I never looked at it that way. I thought you simply chose the store over us.”

I hear her sniffle. “I’m sorry you felt that way. I hope you know how much I love you and your brother. You two and your father are my world.”

Butch knocks on my door and shouts, “Are you ready, Zona?”

I fucking hate that nickname. At this point, all thingsButch McVey annoy me. From his overly friendly touches to his over-confident demeanor. Layton has always been sexy and playfully confident. This guy is just asshole-arrogant confident. It’s not attractive.

I’m on edge, but I know I have three more months, so I’m trying to keep it amicable. I’m one more misstep away from snapping though.

I pull the phone away from my head and yell back, “In a minute.”

I bring the phone back to my ear. “I’m sorry if I upset you. I didn’t mean to. You were an amazing mother. I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise. I need to run. Unfortunately I have dinner with Butch. Give everyone my love. Tell Layton I miss him.”

“I will, sweetie. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“You too.”

I head to dinner with Butch and we have an amiable meal. That’s about all I’m capable of tonight.

He tries to grab my hand on the way out of the restaurant, but I pull away and he sighs. “We’re supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Butch, I have dinner with you almost every night. I’m living up to my end of the bargain. I know you have to touch me during the photo shoots, but outside of that, it makes me uncomfortable. It makes my boyfriend uncomfortable. You and I are fake. We’re a boardroom creation with an expiration date. Layton is my real boyfriend. I need you to understand the difference. You seem to be struggling with reality.”

“Why are you so loyal to him? He’s probably banging half of Philadelphia while you’re here keeping me at arm’s length.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “No, he’s not. Clearly you don’t understand the word commitment.”

“He’s yesterday’s news. His career is over. Don’t you seehow much sense you and I make? We’re appealing both physically and on paper. You and Layton simply don’t make sense anymore.”

I’m so sick of this guy bashing Layton. “I’m not discussing Layton with you again. Frankly, my relationship with him is none of your business.” I sigh in frustration. “Have you ever considered the fact that I’m simply not attracted to you? Even if I was single, which I’m not, you aren’t my type. There are no circumstances in which you and I would ever be together.”

He gives a cocky smile. “I’m everyone’s type, sweetheart. And you clearly have a thing for ballplayers. I’m the best one around.”

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