Page 15 of Midnight Mate
“I’ve been not answering.”
“I wanted to apologize.”
Rudy muttered some curse words that shouldn’t have made sense together but seemed to fit. Something about douche-canoes and shitbags.
“Go ahead,” I said, resigned to this moment even as my pulse raced.
I hated that I was afraid.
“What?” Travis said.
“She said you should apologize,” Rudy snapped.
Travis frowned. He slid a look at Rudy then back to me as if to cue me in that he wanted us to be alone. I ignored it and waited.
“Right.” Travis looked back at me. “I’m so sorry, Cat. I never meant to hurt you.”
“Are you saying youweren’taiming for my head when you threw that vase?”
He had the grace to look slightly cowed by my words. But his quick recovery reminded me this was all an act.
“I lost my temper. It happens to all of us.”
“You accused me of cheating and nearly shifted in my office.”
“Nearly, but I caught myself,” he said as if clawing at the walls of the break room didn’t count against him as long as he’d remained on two legs.
“I had staff in the building, Travis. Someone could have been killed.”
“But they’re fine. Everyone’s fine.”
“You’re not fine,” I shot back. Anger had begun to boil underneath my skin. I could already feel the flush creeping into my face. “I’m not sure what you’re hoping to get from me by showing up here.”
“I was hoping we could start over.” The sincerity in his tone made me want to throw something, too.
“That’s a fantastic idea,” I said, my hand gripping the door even tighter.
Travis’s expression brightened. “See, this is all going to be—”
“Let’s start over right now by pretending we never even met. And then, let’s keep it that way.” I swung the door shut in his face, satisfied by the hard click.
Rudy rushed forward and slid the lock into place.
A second later, Travis knocked. “Cat, c’mon. We can get past this.”
Rudy met my eyes.
I hesitated, wondering if Travis was going to be a problem or if I’d somehow just made things worse.
But then, Rudy grinned. “Up top, girlfriend.” He raised his hand, palm out.
A slow smile spread across my lips. I high-fived him. “How’d I do?”
“You fucking nailed it. Come on. Let’s finish our movie and then never think of that raging asshole again.”
He linked his arm through mine and led the way back to the couch.
7
