Meeting the family already?? For the holidays??? I call dibs on designing your wedding suit.
Polly:
Phil’s in luuuuuuurve!
Heat flushes my cheeks, but it’s the best kind. I love my friends.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
GRIFF
When the timecomes to leave the house on Monday morning, Phil’s a little less relaxed than he was yesterday. It checks out, what with the whole stalker situation on top of his usual anxiety, and he’s insistent that he wants to go to the showroom.
“Is it okay to bring Vivi?” I ask, struck by genius. “We don’t have to, but she comes to work with me sometimes, if I have a quiet day with no meetings, and she loves it.”
My explanation wasn’t necessary—he’s already calling her and heading to the utility room to get her carrier. Every word was true, but it’s not why I want to bring her today. She seemed to help him on Saturday, and since he has to leave the house, I’m in favor of making sure he has anything he might need to feel in control.
When we’re in the car, he says, “Thanks,” and I wonder if I went too far.
“I didn’t mean?—”
“I know. You’ve been good about giving me space. This was a good idea, and I’m glad you suggested it.” He reaches over and lays his hand on top of mine. “Thank you.”
He directs me to the private parking for employees under the building, which takes a load off my mind. I know intellectually that his stalker, this Mary woman, is unlikely to attack him on the street with me beside him, but I still feel a lot better using secure parking to get him into the building.
In the elevator, he sets down Vivi’s carrier, opens it, and lifts her into his arms. I bite back the need to ask if he’s okay. He’ll tell me if he’s not.
We step out onto Phallacy’s floor and are immediately accosted by a shout.
“Oh my god, Phil!” Kyle races out from behind the reception desk. “I can’t believe your rude fan is astalker.” He stops short, and I get the feeling he wants to hug Phil but is deterred by Vivi’s presence.
My boyfriend clearly knew what was coming and prepared for it.
“Are you okay?” Kyle continues, his anxious gaze taking Phil in.
“Yes.”
Fuck. He’s already getting overwhelmed. His tone is tighter, somehow, than it was in the car, and Phil’s not the type to give one-word answers when he’s comfortable. He’s a chatty guy.
Kyle, thankfully, recognizes that this isn’t the time for asking personal questions. Instead, he redirects his attention to Vivi. “And who’s this princess? Does she like to be petted?”
“This is Vivienne Westwood Pevensy,” Phil says before I can decide whether I need to reply or not. “Vivi, meet Kyle.”
Kyle actually coos. “Ohhhh, that’s the most perfect name ever!”
“Thanks,” I say. Maybe I should have been telling people Vivi’s full name all this time. People who’d get it, anyway. “And yeah, she likes being petted.”
After fussing over my dog for a few minutes, Kyle straightens and says, “Calla’s already inside—I thought I’d beat everyone here this morning, but she must have come in right after dawn. I’ve cleared most of the week, but she said to leave Mrs. McLaren’s fitting scheduled for tomorrow until after I’d checked with you. I can reschedule it for the new year if you want.”
Phil bites his lip, torn, then shakes his head. “Pamela’s fine. But if anyone else wants an appointment…”
“Nope.” Kyle shakes his head. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re not in this week and people can wait.”
The tiny, relieved smile that statement wins him is enough for me to decide that Kyle’s my new best friend.
We go through to the showroom, which is empty. It’s still too early for the rest of the staff to be here—if Kyle hadn’t already been told about the stalker, I doubt he’d be here either. The big, quiet space seems to give Phil some of his confidence back, and he turns to face me as Calla comes out of her office.
“Is it okay if we set you up in the lounge? You’ll be able to spread out if you need to, and nobody will bother you.”
