Page 40 of Wrecked

It’s been forty-eight hours since Sam and I—since he was here. I haven’t heard a single word from him since.

And why should I hear from him? I treated him like shit. He has every right to be done with me.

Chapter 14 – Sam

Monday morning, I’m standing near the entrance of Clancy’s waiting for Beth to arrive. Nine o’clock comes and goes, so it looks like Princess is running late this morning. I’ll give her five more minutes before I call and check on her.

I glance down at my hands. My knuckles are looking much better—just pink now instead of bright red. I took the bandages off this morning so it wasn’t quite so obvious I’d lost a round with a punching bag. I didn’t want to have to explain to Beth what happened.

While I’m waiting for Beth to arrive, my phone chimes with an incoming message.

Cooper: How’s it going?

Fuck that!He acts like nothing happened between us. I delete the message.

At twenty past nine, Beth and Lia pull up to the front of the building in a cab. Beth looks a bit harried as she rushes into the building. “I’m late,” she says as she passes me and heads for the stairs.

I follow her to the employee lounge, where she clocks in and puts her purse in her locker. Then we rush back downstairs to the sales counter, where Erin’s checking out a customer.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Beth says as she steps in and takes over for Erin.

“No problem,” Erin says gently, patting Beth’s shoulder. “I don’t think Vanessa noticed.”

The three of us are crowded behind the sales counter as Erin observes Beth going through the check-out process. I stand a few feet away, leaning against a bookcase and pretending to beengrossed in a random book I pulled off the shelves behind us. It turns out to be a book on military history, which I guess is fitting. I’m doing my best to stay out of their way and not draw any attention to myself.

The Dragon Lady, herself, dressed in a tight, pin-striped pencil skirt and white silk blouse, walks up to the counter. “Ms. Jamison, how nice of you to join us.”

Beth smiles at the woman. “Good morning, Vanessa. I’m sorry I was late.”

“Don’t let it happen again.” The witch’s eyes shift to my direction. “Please don’t handle the merchandise, Mr. Harrison. This isn’t a public library.”

Beth stiffens. “Vanessa, can I speak with you? In private.”

“I’ll be in my office when your shift is over. Come see me then.”

As the Dragon Lady walks away, Erin and Beth both turn their empathetic glances to me. I roll my eyes at Beth, who laughs. God, I love making that girl laugh. Erin tries hard not to laugh, but she can’t help it.

The rest of the morning is pretty uneventful, except for Vanessa periodically coming downstairs from her throne to spy on Beth. I honestly don’t know why Beth doesn’t simply fire Vanessa. I mean, if Beth is the owner of the store, surely she gets the final say in everything, including who works here.

I get a couple more texts from Cooper.

Cooper: About Friday night. I thought I was pretty clear upfront.

I ignore him.

Cooper: I never meant to deceive you. Or hurt you. I told you how it was going to be.

I delete his messages, put my phone away, and find another book to pass the time with. This one is a sci-fi.

When Lia comes to pick Beth up at the allotted time, I wonder how long this part-time babysitting gig is going to continue. I can just as easily pick Beth up at the penthouse in the mornings and take her home in the afternoons. I won’t need to worry about running into Cooper because he’ll be at the shooting range.

* * *

Beth is ringing up another customer when Erin comes to tell her there’s a reporter fromThe Chicago Scoopasking to interview Beth.

“He wants to see me?” she asks. “Why?”

A stocky guy in jeans and a button-down shirt approaches the counter. He’s got a digital camera slung around his neck. Smiling, he takes a few shots of Beth standing behind the counter.