“Why?”
“You mean beyond the obvious?”
“Well, yes.” Because I had an inkling there was more to it—beyond the failed relationship and living in that decrepit house.
She sighed. “It’s just that for the past few years, I worked with him. Marshall. I ran his doctor’s office. And now?—”
“You’re out of a job,” I realized. “Fuck, that’s a shitty situation. How do you even make the mortgage payment?”
“From my savings,” she said in a small voice. “But I’m on theright track with that. I found a part-time job as an accountant. It doesn’t pay a lot, but it’s better than nothing.”
She was a fighter. I admired that.
“So…” Her voice sounded awkward now. “How exactly are we going to play this?”
I looked off into the distance, narrowing my eyes. “I’ll ask Stella, my assistant, to send Jude an invitation to dinner for him and his wife. And she’ll inform him that my girlfriend will also be attending. If he takes the bait, I’ll let you know.”
“That sounds like a good plan.”
“Is your ex likely to bother you again?” I asked.
She swallowed audibly. “It’s not like I can avoid him. Both of our names are on the deed for the house. Eventually, I’ll have to see him again.”
“Well, if you need someone to murder the hell out of him, let me know. And I’m your man for anything. A smoking-hot kiss, a love declaration right in front of the prick, whatever,” I said in a teasing tone.
“You do tempt me,” she said. I was pleased that her voice was light again. “But why would you bother?”
“Because as you said, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
“Oh, Griffin, I think you’re the most interesting person I’ve ever met.”
It was my turn to laugh. “You say that now because you don’t know me too well. You might change your mind.”
“I don’t think I will. Let me know if your potential business partner takes the bait. And if not, well… then I don’t know. I’ll see you around?”
“Sure.”
She definitely would, because as I hung up, I’d made up my mind. Regardless of what Jude replied, I was going to see Phoebe again.
CHAPTER 6
PHOEBE
“This can’t be right,”I muttered as I rode the bus from work back home on Wednesday. I dutifully filled out all my expenses in the app I used to track everything. After everything was paid, I would have $5 in my account.
I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the cool window. I needed to find a second job—right away. I’d sent a ton of applications but mostly got standard rejections saying my profile didn’t fit their requirements.
No wonder. I’d spent five years managing a doctor’s office. Still, I was hopeful that if I did a good job as a part-timer, they’d increase my hours at H&R Block. One could dream. I didn’t love the job, but at this point, I just wanted to pay my bills.
When the bus stopped at the station closest to my house, I stepped out of it, shuddering. I loved AC, but I never understood why it was set so cold.
I had a tiny Toyota in front of the house, but I didn’t want to waste any money on gas. Instead, I used public transportation and a bicycle I’d gotten for next to nothing on Craigslist.
As I walked home with quick steps, my phone rang in my purse. I immediately took it out, wondering if Mom was calling again. We’d spoken this morning, but only for a few minutes. Iloved my parents to bits, and I usually talked to them for hours on end, but ever since Marshall and I broke up, I tried to keep our conversations short. I didn’t want to worry them.
My heart somersaulted when I saw the caller ID. It was Griffin!
I hesitated for a split second, remembering the insane turn our last conversation took. Honestly, after hanging up, I was convinced that I’d imagined it. But I hadn’t. Griffin Sterling was larger than life, plain and simple. I’d realized that the second we met.
