Page 7 of Reading Between the Lines
“I thought we agreed I would be the buffer to prevent clients from filing restraining orders or giving you bad reviews.”
“You aren’t done with the training course. Hence, you aren’t officially a partner.”
“Semantics, and it’s so boring. I forgot how much I loathe school.”
Silence. I hated it when he did that. Even through the phone, even without words, he could dominate a conversation and get his way.
“I’m almost done with the training. It’s a lot of studying, D. And tests. And stupid assignments. Plus, I’m super busy. Did I mention I hate school?” I whimpered for effect. My mother, who listened in, rolled her eyes and swatted me in the ass with the dish towel as she moved off to the sink.
The PI course Diem had encouraged me to take when we started dating consisted of fifty hours of online bookwork. Fifty fucking hours. I’d been making my way through it during my spare time but still had over ten hours and several tests to go before completion. It was the bane of my existence.
“None of it will matter if I have to close the doors.”
“You won’t. Come on, D. Let me go with you.”
“You have to work.”
“I can talk to Kitty.”
“No.”
I pouted even though he couldn’t see me.
“Don’t,” he growled.
“Don’t what?”
“You’re sulking.”
“I am not.”
“I’m padding my pocketbook and coming home. It’s not worth you taking time off.”
“But what if you’re wrong? What if you’re there longer? What if this is your big break?”
“It’s not. The kid is practically dead, and the parents are grieving. The police investigated and called it an accident. The end. What more can there be?”
“A lot. What if—”
“No.”
“But—”
“No.”
I huffed. “Fine. Where’s Port Hope?”
“About an hour east. An hour and a half, maybe. I don’t know. It’s on the lake.”
“Where are you staying?”
“They’re putting me up at some stupid B&B called Ivory Lace or some shit. Two nights, Tallus. Stay home and take care of things on this end. Book me some fucking clients. High paying ones. Reply to emails. Finish the fucking course. You want your name on the sign, don’t you? If there’s no business, there’s no sign.”
“Okay… When are you leaving?”
“Ten minutes.”
Dammit.It wasn’t enough time to call Kitty and crash his party. If I showed up in his parking garage with a bag packed, he wouldn’t turn me away, but ten minutes wasn’t enough time. “Fine. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
