Page 151 of Chasing Sparks

Chapter 22

Wily Investors

Ori

“O

ri, you have a visitor.”

I gaze up from my desk, noting the tense expression on Mina’s face.

Wonderful.

“Who is it?”

Lucille steps around Mina and into my office. “The unwelcome wagon.”

“Those books are due in tomorrow. I’ll run them over when they come in.”

I hope my disclosure ends our awkward chat, but Lucille has other ideas.

“That’s not why I’m here,” she states.

Like I said, wonderful.

I stiffen and nod toward a chair on the other side of my desk. “What can I do for you?”

Although Lucille and I have hashed it out, so to speak, I’m still wary of the woman. It was actually a pleasant reprieve,heading to Manhattan for the week and putting some distance between me and the drama of Sparkwood.

She sinks into the chair, her movements slower than usual, and I notice how much she’s popped since the last time I saw her. I hold myself back from saying as much. Yes, pregnant women are beautiful, but no one wants to be told they look like they’ve swallowed a beach ball.

I also realize that will be me one day.

Lucille breaks the silence. “Ash’s birthday is tomorrow.”

“I know,” I reply, turning my focus to the computer screen and typing nonsense just to look busy. Anything to act like this entire situation isn’t a giant cluster.

“I’m throwing a party for him.”

How fucking quaint.

I bite back the sarcasm and manage a curt nod. “That’s nice of you.”

She exhales, her gaze fixed on her hands. It’s the first time I’ve seen her look genuinely uncomfortable, which, frankly, throws me off. “Please come.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Ori, you mean so much to Ash. I know my arrival has turned your life upside down, and I’m sorry for that. Sorrier than you know. But it won’t be his birthday if you’re not there.”

I glance at my calendar, running my finger over the date. With a sigh, I lean back in my chair. “I don’t know, Lucille. The last thing any of us needs is more tension.”

“There won’t be. Just good food, good drinks, and good people. All celebrating a good man. What do you say?”

“Is he a good man, though?” I grimace as the words escape before my brain can pull them back.

Lucille bites back a laugh. “He most definitely is, even when he behaves like a horse’s ass.”

I giggle, realizing she’s got him pegged. “Spot-on description there.”

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