“What?” he said in a low tone that made the hairs on my neck stand up and I wasn’t the only one who felt it. The kids did too for all our eyes went to Mitch. “Right. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Leaving now.”
Oh no.
Mitch disconnected and looked at me. I didn’t like what I saw but I didn’t have a chance to fully process it before he looked to Bud.
“Sorry, buddy, gotta take a rain check. Work. Soon’s I can, I’ll make it up to you.”
“Okay, Mitch,” Bud agreed, his voice soft.
“You okay, Mitch?” Billie asked, her eyes still on Mitch’s face.
“I will be, gorgeous, once I get this work done. Won’t take long,” he answered Billie and looked at me. “Walk me to the door, baby.”
My eyes slid through the kids while my lips smiled a fake smile I knew they wouldn’t buy and I followed Mitch to the door.
He walked out of it, I followed him out and he closed the door.
Then he turned to me, lifted both hands and put them to the sides of my neck, leaning in so our faces were close.
“Your new girl Tyra?”
Oh no!
“Yes?” I whispered.
“She might be in some trouble.”
Oh no. On no. Oh no!
“Mitch,” I breathed.
“Don’t go shoppin’. Put Billie off for a bit. Stay at the house.”
“Why?”
“I just wanna know where you are all day, okay?”
I nodded. I could do that for him.
“I gotta go.”
I nodded again.
“Love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too, honey.”
He bent his head further, touching his mouth to mine.
Then he jogged to his SUV in our drive.
Jogged.
That was not good.
I watched him swing in. Then I sucked in breath and went inside to break the news to Billie we weren’t going shopping.
And after that, call the girls.