Page 33 of Dueling Flames

“Here’s my advice. Sleep on it and talk to her tomorrow.”

I could have predicted that advice. He always said to sleep on any decisions or problems I was having. The only problem was I wanted to talk to her now, but I could feel the tension in my shoulders. My heart pounded at the thought, and a fear I’d never felt washed over me. If I talked to her now, I’d say it all wrong.

“Now what else happened?” Joe asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Ugh. Milo came by the station and asked me to breakfast.”

“Is that the guy that wanted you to be eye candy?”

“Yep.”

“And you said no.”

“I said yes. Happened right after I overheard the partner conversation.”

“And what did Milo want?” Joe didn’t hide the disgust from his voice.

“A fuck buddy.”

Joe didn’t answer at first. In fact, I thought the call cut for a second. “And you said no? Right?” Joe finally said.

“I said no. Then walked around for an hour until I came home and called you.”

“Bitch, you had me worried. And I’m delighted I’m your first call.”

“Who else would I call?”

He chuckled. “I’m glad your ankle is doing well enough to let you walk for an hour.”

“I want to work so bad. I’m taking the physical therapy seriously. Lissa says a little too seriously, but she helps me with the exercises no matter how many times I ask.”

“Your voice just went real soft, lover boy. You need to clear this partner thing up with her. I want to hear that tone again. ‘Lissa says.’ My boy’s in love.”

“Shut up.”

“Talk to me like you talk to Lissa,” Joe said in a low sultry voice.

“Gross. Don’t talk to me like you’re Barry White.”

“I’ll do what I want,” he said in the same deep tone.

“I’m hanging up and going to sleep. Bye.”

“Bye lover boy.” Joe ended the call before I could say anything back.

Lissa

I finally got a text from Thorne telling me he had a ride, and he’d see me later. I hopped in my car and started home. I missed the breakfast delivery from Fifi from Rise and Shine Bakery. Even with her bakery under construction, she still brought over food twice a day. The rest of the crew ate it all before I could grab my own. Bunch of savages.

My stomach rumbled as I turned the corner and slowed to consider the bistro down the street. It looked cute but expensive. I could treat myself though and looked for a place to park. That’s when I saw him through the window. Me, stopped in the street with my blinker on to parallel park and Thorne sitting at a table with his ex-boyfriend Milo. What is happening right now?

They looked comfortable, like this was a normal everyday thing. Thorne told me what happened between the two of them after we met that one night. Why would he agree to have a meal with him? It didn’t make sense. And why did I feel so…jealous. Oh, I don’t like feeling jealous. I swallowed the lump in my throat and abandoned the thought of breakfast.

This feeling needed to go away now. When I got home, I dropped my bags and went into the kitchen, downed two glasses of water, then I grabbed a beer. My watch said 8:30 a.m. I couldn’t call Chelsea, she was working. As a teacher, she didn’t have the availability to talk while she worked. Monica and Jeff were also unavailable this early in the morning. Maybe I could call my brother, except I haven’t told him anything about Thorne.

I walked the length of my apartment about twelve times while sipping my beer. Finally, I stopped and shook out my arms. He’ll be back after his breakfast. It’s not a big deal. I refuse to be jealous.

After a quick shower, I climbed into bed repeating my new mantra out loud. “I refuse to be jealous. I am not jealous. That is not who I am.”