Lucy bit her lower lip and scooted past them. What the heck was that all about? She glanced behind her as he exited. One look at his broken face, and it was clear that any mention of Teresa was off-limits.
Lighthearted, superficial William had never carried this intensity.
“The coffee girl gave you her number,” she said to lighten the mood.
He shifted the bag of drinks to read the writing. “Not on the market.”
“Girlfriend?”
He made a face as though he had eaten a spoonful of used coffee grounds. “No girlfriend.”
“Fiancée?”
He flinched. “None of the above. Just not on the market.”
The crisp air and a surge of caffeine boosted her confidence. Her mouth took off before she filtered her thoughts. “Born-again virgin? Celibacy isn’t only for martyrs. We ran a story at my old station about the whole thing. It’s intriguing.”
“I’m not a monk, or born-again anything. I’m just not looking right now. You?” He held her stare as he had done in the coffee shop.
The question hung heavy in the air between them.
“I’m not a monk, either,” she finally said.
“Ah…one of those born-again things?”
“No. I mean…not attached, either.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s such a funny way to say it. Attached. Like stapled to a man. Or handcuffed.”
William’s eyebrows lifted slightly when she mentioned handcuffs.
She studied the cracks in the sidewalk as they walked in uncomfortable silence. Finally, she asked, “How do you know Dixie?”
“She doesn’t like my dad, and he’s trying to dictate where I live.”
“Why would he care? You’re not ten.”
Bitterness tainted William’s laugh. “My dad is a big deal around here. Huge benefactor to charities, countless years spent as an elected official and, for now, he’s the head of Crestone Mountain Media.”
She pressed a hand to her lips. Life did that run-her-over thing again. Why did everything in this town have to be so connected?
“We don’t talk. He’s got it in his head I should move in with him and Teresa so we can be a happy family again,” he continued. “Got here a week ago, and he made it impossible for me to find a place to rent.”
“Impressively passive aggressive of him. Why would he care, though? You’re old enough to take care of yourself.”
“Control.” He glared ahead at nothing in particular. “It’s all about control.”
“I take it Teresa back there is connected to your dad?” Lucy gestured down the block from where they came as the automatic doors of their building opened for them.
He moved to the side so she could go ahead. “Yeah. She’s his wife.”
Oh.
True to form, families never failed to bring on the worst kind of drama. Which is why she avoided hers.
Lucy scooted ahead of him. AWet Floorsign near the bank of elevators served as a reminder of their collision.
Thanks to the coffee massacre, Lucy entered the newsroom more than an hour after leaving. William passed the bag of drinks to her and sat at what must have been his desk at one of the cubicles.
Reuben emerged from a small editing bay near the door. “Don’t producers manage time for a living?” He held his watch up and tapped the face. “Whoa. You’re supposed to bring the coffee. Not wear it.”
