“Maybe not knowingly. Do you still give her money?”
“I stopped.”
“When?”
“The week before…” He trails off, and I fit the pieces together.
“She thinks it’smy faultthat you cut her off. So, her payback was to makemehurt. Probably in the hopes that I would be so angry that I would never want to see you again,” I tell him.
“She doesn’t know what’s happening between us. I don’t even know. Do you?” he asks, searching my eyes for an answer I don’t have.
“Nothingis happening between us.” The words come out sharp, too quickly. Truth is, I don’t know what’s happeningeither. Maybe I’m scared to admit it. Or maybe I’m just confused.
So, why am I here? The question echoes inside me, louder than I want it to. Because part of me can’t stop wanting him, wants whatever this is, even if it’s a mess.
“So, why are you here, then?”
Touché, motherfucker.
“You are my boss, and I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why did you come to the fight?”
I grab a fork from the drawer. “I like watching you fight.”
“Your son asked me to train him,” he says nonchalantly.
“Sorry, what?”
“When he asked me what I do for fun, I told him I box. He asked me if I could teach him because kids are mean to him at school.”
I stand there, baffled at this information. Oliver has never mentioned to me that he’s being bullied, and yet he told a man he hardly knows.
“Do you plan to stab me again?” he asks, and I notice I’m holding the fork a little too tightly.
“He’s being bullied?” I ask as I hand over the fork.
“I don’t think so. I asked him about it, and he just mentioned that kids are mean.”
That makes me sad. You never want your kid to feel like an outsider or an easy mark for someone to pick on.
“He’s a good kid, and I would be happy to train him.”
“Thank you.” I rest my elbows on the counter and stare at him as he eats.
“Are you eating?” he questions.
“I’ve eaten already. Plus, I have to make sure you don’t die on me.”
“You leave in a few days for your trip, right?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Yep. I’m so excited to see my family. I feel like it’s been forever since I hugged my mother.”
His expression shifts to something like confusion at my confession, and I smile at him as he continues to eat.
“Are you giving Maya money again?” I ask.
“No.”
