Page 27 of Finding Forever

“Of course I am.” As a dentist, he fully supported my coffee habit but always teased me about doing it responsibly and environmentally safe.

“Good, because I’m all out of teeth whitening discounts.” He winked and disappeared down the hall.

When I finally made it to the door, I noticed that Sera was opening the supply closet. She looked like she’d just been sentenced to detention, and that gave me a deep belly laugh as I walked to my car.

∞∞∞

Work after lunch passed by in a blur of insurance claims and appointment setting. Sera kept her distance for the most part. While I drove home, I was on the phone with my best friend Abigail, telling her all about the wench who had tried to ruin my day at work. Abby and I had been close friends since elementary school.

“I love your boss for not giving into her little hissy fit. What is she? Three?”

“Exactly!” I exclaimed, steering down the road towards my home. My street was my favorite sight after a long day. It meant that relaxation was near.

“You know some people are just miserable and there’s nothing you can do about that. All you can do is control your reaction and I’m proud of you. Because the old Gina would have snapped. Shoot, the present might have snapped. She’s got a lot of nerve trying to dictate janitorial duties to you as if she runs the place.”

Snickering, I had to agree with her. The old me definitely would have snapped. But I was working hard on maintaining my cool equilibrium. Something that was a lot easier said than done when you were surrounded by imbeciles.

Speaking of imbeciles…

It looked like I was sadly mistaken if I thought I’d left all the drama behind me at work.

“Girl, let me call you back,” I said to Abby as I turned into the driveway and spotted a familiar car in my usual spot.

“Wait, I want to hear more about Maverick. You’ve been tightlipped with the details.”

“I’ll tell you when I call you back. I have a different fire to put out right now.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked, reading the impatience in my tone.

“My ex-husband is sitting in my mom’s spot in our driveway.”

“Ew, what does he want? I can’t believe we ever fought over that boy in high school. I’m certain he hasn’t matured since we graduated.”

If I let her, Abby would get all worked up about her distaste for Chris, so I nipped it in the bud. “As soon as he leaves, I’ll call you back. “

“Fine,” she agreed grudgingly. “I’ll be sitting by the phone.”

Rolling my eyes at her, I parked my car beside his and cut the engine. Staring at Chris’s car, a heavy sigh escaped me.

“What now?” I groaned, letting my head fall back against the headrest of the driver’s seat. Gathering my things, I stepped out of the car and cautiously approached him.

“Mycah is with his grandmother.” My mother had picked him up from school for their weekly “date” where he got her undivided attention, all his favorite food and plenty of time to play at his favorite playground.

“I’m here to talk to you,” he said in a tone that was more serious than anything I’d heard from him before.

Amused by this new persona he’d put on, I tilted my head to study his disposition. He looked pouty, like a petulant child who wasn’t getting their way.

“Say what’s on your mind,” I invited, ready to go inside and curl up with a book while I had some time to myself. I could have invited him inside, but thought better of it. The driveway was neutral enough territory for an uninvited guest.

Standing across from him, I tried to pinpoint exactly what it was about him that I had ever found attractive or admirable. Maverick had shown up and completely shifted my expectations of how a man should carry himself.

Maverick’s presence was impactful without him being flashy or loud. I’d never heard him raise his voice, yet he commanded respect whenever he spoke. Chris, on the other hand, seemed to fall short. In almost every way. He was selfish and because of selfishness he did and said ugly things. There was nothing about him that I took seriously anymore. And I had never been surer of it. Any feelings I had once harbored were long gone.

These weren’t differences that had anything to do with money, either. Chris and Maverick were in a different class of men, but this all came down to character and integrity. Something Chris clearly lacked since he was openly screwing his “employer” and still getting paid to be her driver.

“I don’t want Maverick around my son.”

His tone was cold, like he was disappointed that I’d allowed it to happen up until this point. This man had no shortage of audacity. I was learning how true that was with each passing day.

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