Page 39 of Show Me How
“You don’t what, Millie? Don’t know why you stopped answering me and kept me wondering why all damn night?”
I nod jerkily, unable to speak.
“I checked my phone every hour, waiting to see if you’d answered my question. You didn’t, though, did you? I want to know why.”
“I fell asleep,” I lie.
Humoured disbelief fills his expression. “You’re something else.”
“We shouldn’t have spoken to each other like that.”
“Why not?”
“We’re not compatible, and I’m not here for all . . . of that.”
Releasing the armrest, he backs up, taking his touch with him. Instead of continuing to stroke my flushed skin, he slips his hands into his pockets and eyes me casually.
“Alright.”
I open and close my mouth a few times. “Alright?”
“We’re still having dinner together. But alright. I’ll let the rest go for now,” he relents, appearing completely unbothered.
Annoyance ripples through me as I stiffen in the chair. “And if I don’t want to have dinner with you?”
“Don’t try it, Millie. I’m already letting you fib a bit too much already.”
And with that, he leaves me at the desk, staring after him with a shiver running up my spine.
12
SHADE
Before I’ve turnedmy car off, Millie’s already parked and hopping out of hers. I go to follow her, but the moment I open my door, she’s whipping around and shaking her head at me. The finger she’s waving in my direction keeps me seated.
“No! I’ll just be a minute.”
“I can’t come inside with you? I’ll just say hi to Shelly.”
“No. You’re just going to distract her. I’ll be quick,” she rambles.
I still don’t know why she needed to go to the office before her place. “As a bunny, princess. I’ve got an extra-large pizza on my passenger seat that’s going to get cold.”
Happy with that, she opens the screen door and scurries inside, letting it smack shut behind her. I inhale the smell of greasy pepperoni with extra cheese and lean into my seat, waiting.
I glance at the time after what feels like forever, seeing that it’s only been three minutes. Still, that feels like long enough for her to have done whatever it was she needed to. There’s nothing in the office besides a few Shimmer Lake sweatshirts, fishing rods, and life jackets. Unless she’s planning on taking me ona late-night canoe ride, I don’t think she’ll be snapping any of those things up.
“Fuck it,” I mutter before getting out.
The sun has already set, so I follow the glowing lanterns up the log steps. Camping chairs are set along both sides of the porch, but there’s only one that has a stool in front of it. That’s always been Shelly’s spot, and it makes me feel too nostalgic to see that nothing has changed here at all.
“Are you sure you don’t have any other cards we can try instead? Maybe there’s been a mistake at the bank,” Shelly suggests.
“Um, can you just try this one once more? There should be enough on it.”
I hear Millie’s voice before I see the shape of her behind the screen door. With a tug, I have it out of my way. It creaks loudly on its hinges, interrupting the two women.
Shelly glances my way and offers a brief smile before focusing back on Millie. “I can, honey.”
