"It's okay, you have my permission to get it from my file."
"I just left the office, it would be quicker for you to give it to me, so I don't have to go back inside."
"Oh right, okay." She rattled off her address as she hurried down the hall to her bedroom.
"Thanks, I'll be there in a few minutes. Stall him the best you can."
Ending the call, she tossed her phone on the bed then stripped off her shirt and yoga pants before grabbing her ratty old bathrobe from the closet. Maybe she could make Phillip think she’d been in the shower. She darted to the bathroom, wrapped her hair in a towel, then dabbed some water on her neck. She finished tying her robe as she reached the front door.
"Alright, alright." She swung open the door. "Hold your hors—" She feigned surprise. "Phillip? What are you doing here?"
His gaze rake over her, lips lifting in an appreciative grin that she used to find flattering but now looked too much like a leer. He folded his arms and leaned against the door frame as though he had all the time in the world. "Well, hello, darling."
She used to get goosebumps when his voice took on that seductive quality, but now, it made her skin crawl. She tugged the neck of her robe closed.
"Why are you here?" Ice filled her voice.
"I tried to leave Providence, but I just couldn't." He shoved his hands into his pockets, making himself look insecure. "I need you in my life, babe."
The action didn't look nearly as endearing on Phillip as it did on Gabe. When Gabe did it, Paige saw it as a protective shield, not a ploy for attention.
"You were gone when I stopped by Saturday evening, but your mom assured me you'd be home alone tonight." He pulled his hands from his pockets and clasped them in a pleading gesture. "Spend the evening with me. Please. Let me prove that we belong together."
My mom set me up?
Heat flared in Paige's chest, and she promised herself she'd tell her parents the truth about Phillip tonight. She'd even wait up late for them if she needed to.
"I have plans this evening. With myboyfriend." She put emphasis on that last word.
"Your therapist? You honestly think that will last?" His face filled with skepticism.
"Of course it will," she said ignoring the doubts that filled her head and heart earlier that afternoon. "He's not cheating on me, like you did."
Although he is lying to his mom.
Even though she understood why, it still bothered her.
Phillip cocked a brow. "Are you sure about that?"
She growled in disgust and started to push the door closed, but he stuck his foot over the threshold, stopping it.
"I'm sorry. That was out of line." His expression grew more earnest. "Paige, honey. I refuse to give up on us."
"There is nous," she insisted, frustration raising her voice. "There never should have been any form of us, because you were engaged to someone else, remember?"
Gabe's car came to a stop in front of the house, lifting a weight from her shoulders and weakening her knees.
Phillip barely glanced over his shoulder before trying again. "I need you in my life, Paige." He looked down for a moment and shuffled his feet. "I'm willing to play second fiddle until you realize we're meant to be together."
Revulsion ricocheted through her. "What?"
"If you come back to me, you can keep seeing your therapist on the side."
Paige's mouth dropped open. Why would Phillip think she’d be interested in such a disgusting proposition? Did he think it only fair, since he'd seen someone else the entire time he was with her?
"And if hertherapistisn't okay with that?" Gabe's voice bordered on a growl.
Phillip looked only mildly surprised. He gave Gabe a quick once over before turning back to Paige. "I'm confident, if given the chance, I can win you back." Cockiness filled his voice.
