Page 54 of The Inmate
Seth stands close to me as we walk through the parking lot in the direction of my car. I notice he’s parked only a few spots away from mine. A few times as we walk, his shoulder brushes against mine. I don’t comment on that.
When we reach my car, I turn to look at him. “Can I have my phone back now?”
He fishes into his pocket and pulls it out for me. As I take it from him, my fingers brush against his. I can’t help but notice how close he is standing to me.
“So,” he says.
My hair is starting to curl in the cold mist. “So.”
He leans to kiss me. He gets within about an inch of my lips, but then I come to my senses. I press my palm firmly against his chest, pushing him away.
“No, Seth,” I say. “I can’t.”
“Come on,” he pleads with me. “Just a one-off.”
“Last night was the one-off,” I remind him. “If we do it again, it’s not a one-off. Then it’s just cheating. And I don’t want to cheat on Caleb. He’s a good guy.”
“So break up with him. Be with me instead.”
I can see in his eyes that he’s serious. He wants me to dump Caleb and go out with him instead. He must be out of his mind. Yes, last night was amazing and he is wicked sexy. But he’s a mess. His personal life is a disaster. And my own head is still spinning after everything that’s happened this week. I just can’t do this.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
Before he can start declaring his love for me again like last night, I grab my keys out of my purse and get into my car. Seth backs away to let me get out of the spot, but he doesn’t get into his own car. Even as I’m driving out of the parking lot, he’s watching me.
ChapterThirty
TWO MONTHS EARLIER
To: Rhonda Schiff
From: Dawn Schiff
Subject: Advice
Dear Mother,
What is the best way to get a coworker to like you better? Do you have any strategies I could use?
Sincerely,
Dawn
To: Dawn Schiff
From: Rhonda Schiff
Subject: Re: Advice
Who are we talking about? A man?
To: Rhonda Schiff
From: Dawn Schiff
Subject: Re: Advice
Dear Mother,
