Page 48 of Waiting for a Prince
“And maybe if you’d called first, I would’ve told you I had a job to finish. Which is now even more time-critical seeing as I won’t be working tomorrow.”
It was a lie, but she wouldn’t know that. He’d got everything done ahead of time in order to have a whole day with Mark.
Her face tightened, but she said nothing.
That was a bad sign. Trouble brewing.
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it. A message from Mark.
Mark: Why do elephants paint their toenails red? So they can hide up in cherry trees.
It was a dumb joke, butsoMark, and his timing was impeccable. Sam needed a laugh right then.
Then another came hot on its heels.
Mark: Why do elephants paint the bottom of their feet yellow? So they can hide upside down in bowls of custard.
He smiled as he typed.You have a ton of elephant jokes, don’t you?
All he got back was a grinning emoji.
“Who’s that?” Rebecca’s sharp tone shattered his improving mood.
“A friend.” He went to put the phone in his pocket, but she was off the couch and at his side in a heartbeat, her hand held out.
“Let me see.”
He blinked. “Do I ask to see your phone? My messages are nothing to do with you.”
Apparently, Sam was reaching the end of his tether.
Rebecca narrowed her gaze. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
“It’s that Mark, isn’t it?” Her eyes glinted. “You think I don’t notice? The texts, the little smiles, the way you light up when you get a message from him?”
“Ithinkyou’re seeing things,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I see you spending way more time with him than you do with me.” She cocked her head to one side. “Are you in love with him?”
For the life of him, Sam didn’t know how to answer that.
There was that flash again. “You’re cheating on me.”
Sam threw his hands up in the air. “How, exactly? Am I having sex with him? No, I am not. But then again, neither are we.”
“You bastard.” Her hand twitched at her side. “Fine. Run off with your little boyfriend. Because if you leave me, Sam, I’ll tell your father everything. I’ll make sure he knowsexactlywhat you are.”
Sam was numb.
Heavy.
Empty.
“Then do it,” he said in a quiet voice.
Rebecca stared at him, her mouth open. Then something shifted in her eyes.
