Page 54 of Taming Georgia

She hangs her coat on the hook on the wall. “So, the guys tell me that you’ve been quite the jerk today.”

I scoff, “Hardly. I’m not going to coddle my employees like you do. It doesn’t mean I’m a jerk. They need to grow the fuck up.”

“You know, I had dinner with her last night.”

I rip my focus from the papers on my desk and whip my head up, narrowing my eyes. “Why?”

“Because I love her and miss her.”

“You love everyone, but you’re not out on dinner dates every night. Why do you have to go out with her?”

“Just because you ran her out doesn’t mean that I’m going to end my relationship with her. She’s a good girl. She called and wanted to get together. She misses the dogs, you know. She wanted updates. I’m pretty sure she misses everything about this place…and everyone.”

Ethel’s pointed stare in my direction doesn’t go unnoticed, though I pretend it does.

“For the record, I didn’t run her out. She chose to leave. There’s a big difference. I am who I am, E. I can’t be someone I’m not just to make her stay.”

“You are who you are, but few see that side. Most see who you pretend to be.” She stands beside the desk now. Her arms cross over her shirt, which has a plaid cat flying a hang glider.

“Cats can’t be plaid, for the record,” I gripe with a glower at her shirt.

“They also can’t hang glide. What’s your point?”

I push my chair back and stand. “What do you mean, who I pretend to be?”

Ethel presses her pointer finger against her lips several times in thought. “I think you push people away before they can get close to you because you’re afraid to lose them.”

“Seriously, don’t you own any non-cat shirts?” I glare, irritated by her dumb attire.

“She told me about that kiss.” Ethel raises her eyebrows.

Yep, not going there.

“And you know what? The new guy forgot the clip. I have a right to be a jerk about that. They have to learn that’s not acceptable.”

“She also told me about what you said to her in high school. That really hurt her, you know. She’s very self-conscious about coming from money, and she wants to be a good person despite of it.”

I tap the desk. “I think Xavier is talking back too much. I get that we’re friends, but I’m still his boss.”

“She said you’re the best kiss she’s ever had.” Ethel puckers her lips and opens her eyes obnoxiously wide.

I throw the papers on my desk into the top drawer. At the same time, Cooper decides to wake from his slumber on the couch and peer toward Ethel and me with one ear cocked up, as if he’s listening.

“Have you checked on Luna today? Do you think that cut on her neck is healing okay? It’s looking kind of puffy to me, like it might be infected.” I step over to the cabinet we keep the medicine in to check if we have antibiotics left.

“One of her friends contacted her about going to Africa with a church group to help build wells and schools. She’s thinking about going.”

I pick up a box of antibiotics. “We should probably just start her on another round. It can’t hurt. Then, if she is getting an infection, it can clear it up.”

“I don’t know that she’d be back if she goes. Her family doesn’t live here. She just happens to be staying with a friend. That’s the only reason she’s in Michigan.”

Cooper hops off the sofa and stretches.

“Remember we have that donation drive on Saturday. You’re still free to come with me, right?”

“She said that she doesn’t believe in true love. That made me feel sad. I know that the love I had for Earl was real. He was the only man I ever loved.” Ethel walks around, petting all of the cats who lounge lazily in their cat trees.

“Can you set up another adoption event for these damn cats? I’m sick of them being here.”

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