Behind the Scenes(32)
Eryk rolls his eyes. “It’s my intuition. I’m going off that. It’s never been wrong before. I feel like this guy is sneaking in here and trying to put the moves on you and win you back.”
I signal but don’t pull out into traffic. Light snores issue from the backseat. Crystal is out like a light.
“Supposing that would be true, what’s wrong with it?”
“I think you can do better elsewhere.”
“You don’t know him,” I say, the words sharper than I intended.
“Clearly.”
“Okay, then.” I grit my teeth. “You were the one who said I needed to get laid.”
“You’re going to screw him?”
Am I?
“No,” I say firmly.
“Then why did you say that?”
“I just…” I give up and throw my hands in the air. “I don’t know.”
“Neither do I. Go ahead and screw him if you want to, but I don’t think you should get back together with him.”
I stare at him. “Who said anything about that happening?”
Eryk turns in his seat to gaze at me. “The way you look at him says you’re not over him.”
I run my hands over the steering wheel, giving it all some thought. “I don’t know what to say, Eryk. Like I already said, you don’t know him.”
“I just don’t think he’s very smart. Or mature.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “You barely talked to him!”
“My intuition,” he repeats. “It never lies.”
“Your intuition tells you he’s not smart? All right. Fine. Whatever.”
I pull into traffic, ready for the whole conversation to be over with. I already had enough going on in my life without the reemergence of my ex-boyfriend. Eryk’s attitude doesn’t help any.
“Let’s just get home,” I say. “Before Crystal throws up in my car.”
*
I’m returning from the bathroom the next afternoon as Dana is just hanging up the office phone.
“So?” Chuck intently asks, looking at her.
“So he came back from San Francisco early. He’ll be in the office within the hour.” Her mouth draws into a tight line as she pulls the band from her ponytail and shakes her hair out.
“Did something go wrong with the deal?” Daniel asks.
“If so, he didn’t tell me… though he really should.”
I sit down at the desk I’m sharing with Dana. “Mr. Mulroney is coming back? I thought his flight wasn’t until tomorrow.”
Dana shrugs. “Well, now it’s today. Welcome to Mulroney Pictures. There’s always a surprise around each corner.”
“And its Thursday,” I slowly add. “Isn’t he usually downtown on Thursday?”
“Don’t look at me,” Dana says, clicking away on her computer. “I’m just as excited about it as everyone else.”
Chuck makes a disgusted noise. “Man, I was gonna go to the hockey game!”
Dana looks at him. “Tell that to Mr. Mulroney. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to let you leave early so you can watch men knock each other’s teeth out.”
Daniel chuckles while Chuck scowls and crosses his arms.
When Mr. Mulroney arrives, he looks tired, with bags under his eyes. They do nothing to dampen his attractiveness. In a weird way, he looks even better.
Or maybe I’m just as much of a pervert as he is.
“I forgot some of my bags at the airport,” he announces the second he walks in the door before he even says a hello.
Dana picks up the office phone. “I’ll call.”
“No,” he quickly says. His eyes briefly flick over to where I’m sitting. “I’d rather go back.”
“Okay,” Dana says. “I’ll call a car.”
“I can drive. I need the ride to clear my head. One of you can come with me. Sydney.”
His words come out stilted, and Daniel and I exchange a glance. The fact that our boss just claimed he needs a ride to clear his head, but he also insists on company isn’t lost on us. He’s not making sense in the least.
“Will you be back before four?” Chuck asks.
Dana shoots him a look.
Mr. Mulroney slightly cocks his head, the action just as stiff as his words. “I don’t know.”
I slowly stand up and grab my bag. “I’m ready whenever.”
“Good.” He clears his throat and turns away. I follow him, aware of the other three people’s gazes on my back as I walk out.
He’s quiet while we move across the parking lot. I left my sunglasses somewhere in the office, and now I’m cursing myself, shielding my eyes with my hand.
Mr. Mulroney stops at a black sports car. I don’t know anything about cars, so I’ve got no clue what make and model it is, but I can tell that it’s nice. He goes around to the passenger’s side and opens the door.