“You too? What is this, matchmakers of America?” I snarl, wanting nothing more than to tell them all to go to hell and butt out of my business.
“Miah, we all know that you’re digging Miss Clara Elms, dude, so stop trying to deny shit and just give her a chance. You’re IA, not a freaking spook. You’re entitled to a private life like everyone else, man.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll think about it and get back to you. Now let’s talk about what we’re going to do about that other thing.”
Roman’s face goes hard.
“Things stay just as they are, Miah. I don’t want the family knowing what we’ve done, man, and to be honest, I’m not all that excited about explaining shit to your pop if it can be avoided.”
“True. Fine, so things stay just as they are, but do you think that’s possible? Jace called this morning and gave me some really iffy info. Seems the Conrads and the other Lanes aren’t too happy about the way things went down with Bolton and Lynn.”
“Too bad, because that’s over and done with as far as everyone else is concerned, and that’s the way it’s staying. Tell Jace and Jared to keep an eye on Veronica and Loraine. Those two were running in Bolton’s circles.”
“Will do.”
“Now that that’s out of the way…tell me how you’re planning to stay away from Clara if you’re staying in town for an extended period.”
He’s laughing at my grumbles and the unspoken acknowledgement that if I don’t settle things soon, the chances of resisting my need for Clara are pretty slim.
I’m even more attracted to her now than I was before.
Chapter Three
Clara
My phone buzzes for the tenth time in an hour and I’m about ready to scream by the time the last bell rings and my pupils go charging out, leaving me alone, exhausted, and annoyed.
I know who it is and that just makes the incessant calls all the worse, because I know that Nick won’t stop calling until I answer. Even worse, he’ll come down here to see me.
I can’t have that. I don’t want to see him, and I don’t want to hear a word he has to say. I’m also afraid that if I talk to Nick or see him, I’ll give up and go back to him.
My life, the bright and shiny new adventure I’d envisioned, is just not what I thought it would be. That’s saying a lot since all I really wanted was a few friends and the chance to meet a guy or two, nothing wild or unattainable, just…companionship.
Instead, I get to live in a tiny little house that my salary only just covers, with utilities and food being so expensive, and my nights are filled with either TV or a bartender who’d just as soon not talk to me.
Yeah, great life I’m living now.
With the school day over and my schedule free, I get home on time to do a load of laundry before there’s a knock at the door.
“Hello?”
“I got a package here for a Miss Clara Elms.”
“Really?” I ask, opening the door to find a delivery man standing there with a box large enough that he’s struggling to balance it and his clipboard.
“Sign here.”
As soon as I finish writing my signature, he shoves the box my way and leaves while I drag my parcel inside and stand staring at it in confusion.
My phone chirps again. I answer it with a growl and not a small amount of trepidation.
“You sent me a package?”
“Clara, I’ve been trying to reach you all day,” Nick says harshly, not even bothering with a greeting or a kind tone to start things off.
Why I’d expect anything else is ludicrous, and yet I feel better for it. Just another good reminder of why I left in the first place.
“How did you find me?”
Not that I expected less, but I’m curious since I’d gone to so much trouble to cut all ties.
“I called Mary.”
My mother, of course.
“What do you want, Nick?”
I hear a sigh and the rustle of papers before he answers, letting me know that he’s still at work and managing things while trying to get at me. Same old Nick, always fitting me into his life instead of shaping the other stuff in his life around me, like I had to do with him.
“You know what I want, Clara. Don’t play dumb, honey. You’ve made your point and I understand what you were saying before you left. We’ll change together and finally start that family you wanted.”
“The family I wanted? You never listen, Nick, and that’s the problem! I told you I don’t want kids for at least another two or three years, and I meant it. You want kids now. You want that big house in the good part of town. You want everything perfect and fitting into your ideas of what a good marriage should be. I don’t want any of that,” I hiss, rolling my eyes heavenwards.