“You’ll see,” he said, turning his attention to Mr.Fluffy.
“So … listen.”I rubbed the back of my neck, stalling.I was not looking forward to giving him this next piece of news.Greg waited, his eyebrow raised expectantly.“I got a call from Chet,” I blurted, ripping off the bandage.
“Same.”He smirked.“I told you this was coming.”After being passed over for the position that was ultimately given to Chad, Greg had been predicting something like this would happen.
I frowned.“No shock?No outrage at the unfairness of it all?”
“I mean…” He shrugged, earning a scowl from his furry scarf.“I was thinking about being outraged, but then I remembered how much I hate it there.”
I laughed.“So, what will you do now?”
“No clue.Stay unemployed for a while?Apply to some other firms?”He gave me a pointed look.“Whatever I decide to do, I’m confident you’ll give me a glowing reference when the time comes.”
“Absolutely.Whatever you need.”
“What about you?”
“I think I’ll stick around here a little longer.”
His eyes widened in surprise.“Because you got fired?”
“Because I missed Nana,” I said, realizing the truth of it as the words left my mouth.“And I don’t want to waste this chance to spend more time with her.”
Greg snapped his laptop shut.“Let me put this away, then we can go pick her up for breakfast.On the way, you can confess to me all about how you’re also staying for Maya.”
“I … what?”
Greg laughed and handed me Mr.Fluffy, leaving me scrambling for a response.
He was mistaken, of course.I wasn’t staying for Maya.The possibility of getting to know her better was just a lucky coincidence.
five
feeling totally alone
Maya
“Whatdoyoumeanyou’re not leaving?”I levelled a scowl at Liam, and the jerk had the nerve to grin at me like an idiot.He was infuriating.“You’re not leaving?”I blew out an exasperated huff.“Why aren’t you leaving?”
Everything was supposed to go back to normal after today.Why the hell was he staying?He must have a home to get back to.Friends?A girlfriend?A job search?
After his three-year absence, it never crossed my mind that he’d stay any longer than strictly necessary.I stayed home last night to give Liam time alone with Nana, because after today, I’d have her all to myself again.At least, that’s what I thought before he went and extended his visit.
How would I keep myself from kissi—I mean,keep myself from wringing his neckif he was staying?Besides that, he’d been monopolizing all of Nana’s time since he’d arrived.
“I thought I would stick around and spend more time with Nana.I’ve been a terrible grandson staying away for so long.”
“Isn’t that wonderful news, Maya?I made my special shortbread cookies to celebrate.”Nana pointed to the plate of cookies on the coffee table while beaming at Liam like the sun shone out of hisstupid, perfectly rounded ass cheeks.
I inhaled, letting the sweet scent of cookies quell the growing ache in my chest, and forcefully shoved aside whatever impulse made me think about Liam’s perfectly round ass in the first place.Don’t lie,I chided myself.You know damn well that his admitting to being a terrible grandson made him ten times more attractive to you.Then again, who wouldn’t find it attractive when a man owned up to his mistakes?
Had he meant it, though?Wouldn’t that mean he’d stayed away despite knowing it made him a terrible grandson?And if he knew, shouldn’t he have made more of an effort to get here for a visit?Gah.Why must this be so confusing?
At least I’d get my favourite cookies out of this disaster.I couldn’t remember the last time Nana had baked her shortbread.
“Yeah, Maya.Isn’t that great?”Liam smirked at me, his frosty blue eyes dancing with mischief.
Ugh.Damn that beautiful asshole.Of course he would think this whole situation was funny.
