Page 84 of Star-Crossed
“I trust you haven’t been ignoring me out of pettiness?” Harrison asked, the condescension dripping from his words like venom.
“Of course not.” Lyra’s tone was icy calm. Perfectly in control. “I’m at the Townsend Harbor Horrorween Fest.”
“When is that little hamlet evernothaving some kind of festival?” Harrison asked dismissively.
Lyra didn’t dignify the comment with an answer.
“Anyway,” Harrison prattled on, “the reason for my call—”
“Calls,” Lyra said. “As in fifty.”
“Did it not occur to you to wonderwhyI wanted to reach you so urgently?”
Oh, Cy really, really wanted to knock this guy’s teeth down his neck. So much, he actually felt a pang of jealousy at Gabe, whose knuckles had known the distinct pleasure of knuckle-mapping Harrison’s caps.
“Actually, no,” Lyra said. “Not having to wonder why you do the incredibly arrogant and frequently inappropriate things you do has been one of the best parts of calling you my ex-boyfriend.”
Get him,baby,Cy silently cheered.
“Ex-fiancé,” Harrison corrected her.
The word cracked across Cy’s face like a whip. Once upon a time, Lyra was going to marry this man. Had actually accepted his proposal and allowed him to slip a ring on her finger. Had chosen a date, and a venue.
Had been ready to share her body, her mind, herlifewith him.
And in what universe did she go from that to Cy?
“I was calling because Doug Grier called me asking if I thought you’d be interested in a position as a senior staff attorney for Pinyon Environmental in Denver.”
The words dragged Cy out of his head, and he watched excitement leap onto Lyra’s features before she quickly schooled it away.
“Sure they did.” Despite her attempt at sounding utterly disinterested, he could hear the subtle but unmistakable hint of curiosity.
Harrison was silent. Motherfucker knew how to work her, all right.
“Why didn’t they call me directly?” Lyra asked, attempting to bite her cuticle before realizing the long, dagger-like nails she’d applied for the evening were in the way.
“The Griers are close friends of my father’s, as I’m sure you remember. Bob heard about our breakup and wanted to make sure that the offer wouldn’t create any awkwardness.”
Lyra popped the nail off and bit her cuticle.
“I assured him it wouldn’t,” Harrison continued. “Just because our romantic partnership didn’t stand the test of time doesn’t mean I’d deny you a professional opportunity that’s practically tailor-made for you.”
The colossal prick even managed to sound magnanimous.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity, Lyra,” Harrison said, obviously encouraged by her silence. “And you and I both know how rare those kinds of opportunities are.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Harrison,” Lyra replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “But I’ll have to get back to you.”
“Fine,” he replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. “But I wouldn’t keep them waiting if I were you. Your name might have been first on the list, but it is a list.”
The implication sizzled on the air even after Lyra disconnected the call and dropped her phone back in her bag.
“What a fuckstick,” she said, sagging back against the tree.
Cy made himself wait for a full breath before speaking. “But the job sounded pretty interesting.”
Lyra’s attempt at a nonchalant shrug was wholly unconvincing, her gaze distant, as if she were envisioning an entirely different world. Far away from Townsend Harbor.
