Page 130 of The 21-Day Boyfriend
“I thought so, too, before he started sleeping with my sister.”
“I chose to sleep with him of my own free will,” Mila calls out – she must have heard us. “Hey, Eric,” she says.
“Hey, Mila.”
“So you have three days off?”
“It was a pain in the arse just to get tonight and tomorrow lunchtime off.”
“I’m working,” Mila says. “The newest arrival can’t exactly complain about her shifts.”
“It’ll be busy. People tend to go out more just before Christmas.”
“Are you sure you feel up to it?” I ask her.
Eric’s words have worried me a little.
“I’m fine. Besides, I like the job. The customers are nice, my coworkers are great ? especially the girl who works the floor shift with me. We’ve become friends.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Eric says diplomatically. “So,” he says, turning to me. “Will we get going?”
I sigh and give in. “Just let my grab my bag.”
I head off into my room, zipping up the hold-all I’d left on the bed, before glancing around my room – I’m not sure why – and heading back out to Eric and Mila, who are chatting in the living room.
“I was just saying to Mila that I’ve noticed you don’t have a Christmas tree.”
I shrug. “I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest. And we won’t even be here for Christmas, so it seemed like a waste.”
Eric grabs the bag from my hand and swings it over his shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’ll get my coat and be right with you.”
I do as I say, planting a kiss onto Mila’s cheek and reminding her a thousand times to call me, at which she rolls her eyes. I walk to the front door, led by Eric.
“See you tomorrow night?” I ask her from the doorway.
“Tomorrow night. At six on the dot.”
I give her another kiss and she waves goodbye to Eric before we leave my apartment. Descending the stairs in silence, Eric opens the door onto the street and I thank him with my eyes. We step onto the pavement and walk over to his car, where I settle into the passenger seat as Eric shoves my bag into the boot. He starts driving then, but just a few metres later, at a red light, he speaks to me.
“Mila will be fine. Don’t worry.”
I sigh, unconvinced.
“Jake will be there to take care of her, right?”
“Jake couldn’t take care of a budgie.”
Eric rests his hand lightly on my thigh, making me jump.
“Trust him a little.”
I nod, confused by the sensation of his fingers on my leg, by the warmth in his eyes, by the scent taking over the car and my lungs.
“I’ll try,” I manage, before Eric flashes me another one of those ‘I’m in big trouble’ smiles. We pull away from the traffic lights and head towards of the disaster that I’m certain will mark the end of this beautiful dream.
* * *
