“Two days. I fly out tonight and get back Thursday night.”
“I could have the baby by then,” she whines.
“Okay, well, do me a favor and don’t,” I tease, but she’s too busy staring blankly at my chest to return it. Willa squirms out of my hold and trudges back to the step stool. “Gem?—”
“I’m putting it away!” she snaps, folding it up. Her cute little pregnancy waddle as she walks to the back room would make me smile if it wasn’t for the frustration steaming off her. I take a few quick steps back to the front to grab the flowers and meet her at the doorway. She glances at the tulips with a scowl, but I give her a little smile, hoping to melt some of the frostiness. I hold out the bouquet with a bite of my lip, and that’s when she breaks into a little smile. Tugging her to me, I wait for her eyes to meet mine. “You better train the hell out of those people and get back to me ASAP, Trevor.”
“First plane back. I promise.”
“God, you better not miss the birth of our child…”
“Not for the fucking world.”
JoiningMiles for a quick dinner when we landed didn’t seem like a bad idea until we bumped into Marla and he invited her along. Now I’m trying to network with my supervisor while fuming inside from being stuck at a table with my ex. She keeps trying to engage me in conversations I don’t want to have. We’ve just placed our food orders, and I’m kicking myself for not getting it to-go.
“So, Trevor”—Miles turns to me—“tell me about your thoughts on the EdTechU expansion.”
EdTechU has been slowly expanding into the Educational Technology market overseas. Everyone’s been making bets on the next region we’ll land in. I take a sip of my water to clear some of the aggression from my throat. “I think Germany’s the next logical step, considering how well the expansion into the UK was.”
“I think we’d do better in Spain, personally, but Germany’s a smart choice too.” Miles’s entirely too loud ringtone blasts from his shirt pocket. He squints at the screen as he brings it to his face. “This is about tomorrow. I’ll be right back.”
Marla’s mouth is moving before he even steps away. “You’ve been to Germany, right, Trevor?” she asks as if she doesn’t already know the answer. Rage buzzes in my ears. This ploy she’s using for interaction is bullshit.
I nod curtly and slip my phone out of my pocket. “Yup. Been to France too… Excuse me. I have to check this.” There’s nothing on the screen but a thumbs-up text from Hunter, confirming he can check in on Willa at the studio over the next couple of days. I open it anyway, acting like I’ve just received a message from on high. If it gets me out of her direct line of questioning, I have no qualms about faking it. A text from Willa buzzes through during my charade.
Willa
You sent my sister over here to babysit me?
Trevor
Nope. Just to make sure you weren’t climbing anymore ladders.
Willa
It was a damn step stool!
Me
Same diff.
Willa
She showed up with bags, Tre…
And she won’t shut up.
And now Hunter’s texting me
Me
Just go to bed early, Gem.
Willa
Call off your hounds, Jones.
Me
