Page 101 of By His Play

“Me? Go and get coffee? I think you’re forgetting who’s in charge here,” Kian scoffs.

“A grande caramel macchiato would be fantastic. Thank you.”

I shake my head, picturing them glaring at each other inside Kian’s office.

After a few seconds, he huffs. “Fine. Would you like anything else?”

“Surprise me.”

“Trust me, Temptress, you already do. Daily.” He continues muttering for a few seconds before the door slams closed and Lori laughs.

“Okay,” she says. “Let’s figure this out.”

Iwant to say that talking to Lori helped. But…I’m still just as confused as ever when I hang up and drop my cell to my lap.

She asked me if I wanted a serious relationship with Effie.

No. I don’t want a serious relationship with anyone.

She asked if I was happy to walk away and let her meet someone else.

Secretly, my answer was no. After last night, I don’t want any man seeing her like that. She’s mine.

But I lied and said yes.

I told Lori I thought Effie deserved to find a decent man who could give her the world.

That’s not a lie. But right now, I’d kill any motherfucker who tried to give her anything.

I’ve never been a jealous man, but I’m pretty sure that is what bubbles up inside me every time I think about her with someone else.

Ultimately, Lori told me that I needed to figure out exactly what I want and then talk to Effie.

Not exactly the kind of rocket science advice I was hoping for that would fix all this, but I guess the most logical.

Knowing that I’m not going to find the answers I need in a park, I push to my feet and walk back toward the street.

It’s lined with shops, and after grabbing a coffee, I begin wandering in and out of them in the hope inspiration might strike.

And it does—just not in the way I was hoping for.

I stop in a deli to buy ingredients for lunch. Effie will probably refuse to eat it, but I have to try.

As I begin walking back toward the house, my cell dings.

Hoping it’s going to be Effie, I pull it free.

Sadly, the name I find staring back at me isn’t her; instead, it’s my agent.

Daniel: Can I trust that you’ll be in town for the photoshoot Tuesday?

My heart slams against my chest. Fear that Effie isn’t ready to leave yet flooding through my veins.

I have to go back though. I have a life and commitments I need to see through. And if I’m being honest, she needs to return too.

It’s time.

The trip back to Grams’ house takes a lot longer than I was expecting, but the time away doesn’t bring me any clarity.

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