Page 53 of Dirty Filthy Boy
"You and Oliver?"
A spot of pink blooms in her cheeks. "Yeah, who would have thunk, right? He's not exactly my type."
During college, her type had been those in need of sexual guidance— dumb jocks, ignorant nerds, clueless intellectuals. She'd taken them under her wing and literally made men out of them. Someone as gorgeous and sophisticated as Oliver Lyons was way out of her league. If anything, he'd probably taught her a thing or two.
"You found something in common?"
"Yeah, lust." She shrugs. "Pure chemistry. Plain and simple. We have the hots for each other. But I'm nipping this in the bud. Don't need any complications in my life. Especially when I hate his guts."
"Why?" Oliver's is a gentleman from his toes up.
"He's a heartless bastard."
My stomach lurches. That can't be right. The Oliver I knew was nice and honorable. It's been a few years, but surely he wouldn't have changed that much. "What are you talking about?"
"A plot on the edge of town had been earmarked for a new STEM school. But then he found out about it. The land's right next to Lake Michigan. A perfect place to build a new football stadium. He got his cronies together and threw so much money at the city council, they couldn't say no."
"What happened to the school?"
"They relocated it to the edge of the town. Much harder to get to. Some students depend on public transportation to travel to and from school. The first location was ideal, right on the main drag, bus lines running all the time. A lot of inner city kids can't afford the time or money to attend a school so far away."
"But wouldn't they be bused to school?"
"Yeah, but many have part time jobs in other sections of the city. If there is no public transportation from the school to the places where they work, chances are many will drop out. They need money more than they need school. It's a disaster in the making."
"Maybe he'll change his mind if you explain it to him."
"You think he doesn't know? That was one of the main arguments against the stadium, but his mind was made up, and there was no changing it."
I pat her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Mer."
"Yeah, me too." We walk out of the bedroom and head back to the living room where Oliver and Ty are talking football.
"Mar and I were talking. Mind if we go back to my apartment?"
Ty's brow wrinkles. "Why?"
"I was so upset yesterday, I may have missed a few things. And I'd like to clean up. As much as I can."
His brow clears up. "Whatever you want, MacKenna."
"Marigold is coming as well, you know, to help out."
"Of course," Ty says.
"I'll come too," Oliver says. "If you want my help, that is."
"The more the merrier," I say pinning on my brightest smile. "Let me go get my bag."
"I have bigger bags. Bring mine." Ty says.
"Okay."
With that long-legged gait of his, he heads down the hallway. Suddenly regretting giving in so easily, I run after him. I catch up with him in his bedroom. "You don't have to do this. You've already done enough."
"Don't be silly, MacKenna. It's only a couple of suitcases." He pulls me into him, kisses me and I melt. No wonder he doesn't kiss women. If he did, they'd puddle at his feet and he'd never get rid of them. He takes my hand and drags me toward his walk-in closet where he nabs a huge bag from its depth.
"That's too big. I can't handle it."
