Page 102 of Hesi-Dating
"What's up with you today? You should be celebrating your re-election and that Sara didn't get elected mayor." Walt crossed him arms and glared at me across my desk. "You're cranky as hell. Is there trouble in paradise? Did Joley leave you?"
"She might."
"What'd you do?" Walt's arms dropped to support him as he leaned on my desk. "Beg her to stay."
Joley bribed my staff with pastries once a week. She also helped a few of them with their dating apps. Walt had finally found the right woman after Joley helped him with his profile. They were now going on eight weeks of exclusive dating.
"I washed her jeans." I massaged my forehead, embarrassed to admit the crux of our argument. "In my defense, we'd been at a horse show on Sunday. They were dusty." Training my new reining horse was coming along. It had been an entry level event to gauge the horse's ability to handle the show ring. Joley enjoyed the grooming part, making the horse look his best.
"Youwashed her jeans. That's enough for her to breakup with you?"
"Apparently so."
"It's not that you work ninety hours a week and are probably so tired you can't get it up to keep her happy in bed? Or that you almost got in a wreck on the interstate while chasing a car a few days ago? Or that Mitchell threatened you from prison last week?"
"Forget it." I waved him off. Joley and I had been doing great for six months. Since she spent more time at my farm than her sister's house, she had officially moved in with me a few weeks ago. When I left this morning, she'd been furious, but I didn't have enough time to argue it out or make it up to her in the bedroom. I had a press conference scheduled for nine o'clock this morning. I didn't think my hurried efforts to apologize had worked.
Walt settled into the seat across from my desk. He tented his hands in front of his mouth. "Why do you think she's so angry over pants?"
Spare me from Walt's psychoanalysis. Please."Stop it."
"Are the pants the last straw for something else you're doing to drive her nuts? You're a neat freak. Is that getting to her?"
"I am not a neat freak. No one can think or work surrounded by clutter."
He waved around at my office where everything was in its place. "Neat freak. You sure it's not about Mitchell's threat?"
"No. Sources tell me the Red Crips are done since we got the drive out of that lockbox. The hits on their business based on that intel hurt them."
"How's the sex? Still hot or gone stale?"
Definitely not havingthatdiscussion with Walt. "Knock it off. We're done discussing this."
"We're going to figure this out. For my sanity and that of everyone in this building. If she leaves you, you'll lose your mind. You should look into counseling." He nodded at his recommended treatment.
"Who's losing his mind and needs therapy?" Joley asked from the doorway. She held a box of pastries from our favorite bakery. "I brought you treats." She grinned at Walt.
She was beautiful in a red sweater over leggings. She'd pulled her hair up into one of those messy buns that didn't come off as lazy but stylish and showed off her long neck.
When Walt didn't move, Joley flashed what I'd come to know as her scary smile, the one that meant she was about to kick some ass. "Take the box and get out. I need a few moments with Seth."
Walt took the box and darted to the door.
When he'd almost exited, Joley called out, "The sex still rocks. We're not to the therapy point yet. Close the door on your way out, please."
I blinked at her and swallowed. Was this how she was going to leave me? Over a pair of jeans?
"I'm not mad at you for washing the jeans. I was upset that I thought you shrank them."
"I'm sorry. Do you still want to break up?"
"Did I say that? I don't recall it. I'm the one that's sorry. I was moody. My pants didn't fit. I didn't want to admit I was getting fat."
"You're not fat. I love every curve on you. You're perfect."
"Thanks. I think you're hot too." She nibbled on her bottom lip and twisted her hands together.
"What's wrong? Why are you here? I thought you had work today."
