Page 46 of A Labor of Hate
They didn’t know yoga was part of my workout regimen, and I wasn’t about to let them in on that little fact.Not when a spa day with massages was on the line.
My comment earned me some polite chuckles before Vivienne solidified the plans.We walked out together, my eyes scanning surreptitiously for Black Widow.Thankfully, the red-headed bombshell wasn’t anywhere in sight.
We bid the Gauthiers goodbye, and this time we weren’t followed home.Still, Colt and I avoided talking about what just happened until we were back at the house, even though it almost killed me.
So many questions spun around my head.Who was that woman?Were she and Colt serious?Why did it end?Also, if he was the one who ended it, was heblind?And if they didn’t date and I was wrong about that, then what did she really want with him?And, again, was heblind?Anyone with half a brain would know that he never would’ve married me if she were the alternative.
I dropped my purse off inside, scouring every pocket of my clothing and bag for any listening devices.To be extra safe, I changed into comfortable leggings and a large t-shirt.
Okay, so changing was overkill.But who—besides Colt—stayed in jeans or slacks at home if they could help it?
Before Colt could finish sweeping for bugs in the living room, I grabbed his arm and pulled him into the backyard.
He protested with a glare, though didn’t say anything until we were almost to the fence bordering the backdoor neighbors’ property.He wrestled his arm free.“What was that for?”
I looked him up and down, my voice barely above a whisper.“Are you bug free?”
“Of course.And, if you would’ve let me finish, we’d get a better idea of which rooms to be extra careful in.”
I waved him off.“There will be plenty of time for that.What can’t wait is you explaining what the heck happened at lunch.”I pinned him with my stare.“Who was that woman?Do you have any idea how badly she could’ve ruined everything?”
He dragged a hand down his face, sighing.“Yes, I do.That’s all I could think about when I realized she was there.”
“And ‘she’ is…?”
“I think her name is Tiffany.”Ofcourseit was Tiffany.That was practically the most feminine name ever, unless Woman McWoman counted.No wonder she thought my nickname was masculine.“We went on two dates about a month ago.She wanted the relationship to continue.I didn’t.That’s about it.”
Ah, so my hunch had been correct.Still, for some reason, the thought of the two of them together was like a punch in the gut.Probably just jealousy Colt could get not one, buttwodates with a supermodel and I couldn’t manage to hold anyone’s attention except for the gas station clerks near my apartment.And, really, they were so high I wasn’t sure they didn’t look at me and see a rainbow unicorn, anyway.
I chewed my lip, scanning the backyard with my hands on my hips.“Why did you end things with her?On a scale from one to ten, she’s, like, a twelve.”
His lips pursed into his contemplative face as he eyed me curiously.“We… didn’tclick.”
“Mmm, apparentlyshethought you did.”
The corner of his mouth inched upward, and he huffed softly to himself as if he were amused.He didn’t elaborate on whatever he thought was so funny, and I didn’t push him.I would’ve given my left arm to know what was going on in that head of his, though.Sure would’ve made living with him a bit easier.
Wait a second.Tiffany had wanted the relationship to continue.Which meant, somehow, Colt had convinced her he wasn’t a total bore whose idea of a good time was deep cleaning an oven.Whichalsomeant his date etiquette likely wasn’t why he was single.
Grudgingly, I couldn’t argue with that.When we were in public and since I was his supposed wife, he was a complete gentleman.So—my dislike for him and his excessive tidiness, rule-abiding, stick-up-his-butt-ness aside—whywashe single?
I locked eyes with him, fidgeting with my bottom lip in thought.“Why?”
His eyes tracked the motion.“Why what?”
Oh, right.He’d missed my inner monologue.His loss.
“Why aren’t you married in real life?”
He sighed, dragging his attention away to pan across the tops of the fence.No Colleen yet, but I wasn’t banking on it staying that way, even if I’d dragged us to the corner furthest from her yard.
“Of all people, I would think you would have no shortage of reasons.”
I shrugged.“I want to know whyyouthink you’re still single.”
“Because I haven’t found the right one, okay?”
“Psh.”I jabbed a finger at him.“That issocliche.What’s the real reason?”
