Page 44 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

What happened to trying? What happened to giving us a chance? I knew she was mad at me, but a date? Of course, I couldn't tell my mother any of that. She'd be on it like a tick on a bloodhound. “Of course, she's free to date. Who's she going out with?”

“I'm sure it's no one you know. He's a lovely man. A business owner.”

“Sounds great, Mom. I've gotta go, I'll call you later.”

“Of course, dear. You have a good weekend.”

I barely heard what she said. I hung up and dialed Aubrey while I tried to stay calm, tried not to picture Aubrey in some other man's arms, her hair brushing his bare skin, smiling at his words, at his touch. When she didn't answer, I texted her that it was an emergency and she needed to call me right away.

My phone rang seconds later and I answered on the first ring.

“Hello? Noah?” It sounded like she was out of breath.

“You have a date tonight?” My voice was so gruff, I doubted she could understand me. “Mom said you have a date tonight.”

“This is your emergency?”

“It's an emergency to me. The woman I was sharing a bed with just a few days ago, the mother of my child, is going on a date. Have your sheets even stopped smelling like me?”

Something like a growl echoed over the line. “I'm free to date who I want.”

“I still want to try,” I said. “I don't want you to go on a date tonight.” And I didn't, I realized. The only person she should be going on dates with was me. The only man who should touch her was me.

“It's not a date.” Relief whooshed through me like a tsunami. “I'm having dinner with Oscar. Neither of us has many friends in town, so we've been spending a lot of time together.”

My relief vanished as quickly as it had arrived. “The guy you were seeing when I was kidnapped? Does he know you have a boyfriend, now?”

“I don't have a boyfriend, Noah.” Her voice cracked a bit as she spoke and I wished I could see her, could pull her into my arms and make this okay.

“Why won't you give us a chance? What happened when you went out to lunch with May and Carrie?”

“Nothing happened. I got out and I got a little bit of clarity. You have a life and a career in Atlanta, and I want to have a life in Catalpa Creek.”

“Is this about me coming back to Atlanta? I didn't have any choice about that.”

She sighed. “It's not about that. I'm so sorry, but you have to believe this is for the best.”

“Aubrey, I—” But she was gone, the phone screen blank. I stared at that screen for several long moments trying to understand why I hadn't been enough for her. I was facing my responsibilities, all of them. I was doing what needed to be done and, somehow, it wasn't good enough.

I looked up at a knock on the door frame. Jill grinned at me. “Heading out soon?”

“I have a meeting with the marketing team in a bit. You could come, I'd appreciate your input.”

Her cheeks pinked. “I've got plans tonight.”

That caused my eyes to widen. There were few things Jill would rather do than work and fewer things that made her blush.

She laughed at my expression. “I have a date,” she said. “Don't look so surprised. I am human, I need sex as much as the next person.”

I grimaced and stuck my fingers in my ears. “Gah, I don't want to hear that.”

She laughed. “Mom said Aubrey has a date tonight, too.”

“What did she do, send out a memo?”

“I think she's trying to make sure you have every opportunity to get the girl.”

“The girl turned me down.”

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