wish for in my future. And she’s gets to experience it with the man I’m head over heels in love with.
“You must let me know how that goes,” I say, knowing we need to end this. Jake is about to say something when I interrupt him. “Can you take me back to my car now? I feel much better and need to get that graph completed.”
I feel Jake’s stare upon me as my gaze is fixed on the diner outside. The diner we never set foot in. There really is no point. As much as I love being with Jake, it also breaks me a little more each time.
Jake finally resigns himself to whatever war is waging in his head as he starts the car. “Okay,” he replies sadly, making my heart hurt and leaving me with his lingering scent hovering around me the rest of the day.
22
When I get to work the following day, I notice Michael is avoiding me. It happens throughout the day. When he sees me, he turns and heads in the opposite direction. When he does it a third time, I go marching after him, eventually catching him in the men’s toilets.
“Michael, what the hell is going on? Why are you avoiding me?”
He spins around, and at the same time shouts, “Ana, you can’t be in here, this is the men’s—”
It’s then I see his purple right eye and gasp. “Oh, shit, what the hell happened to you?” I close the distance between us, placing my hand on his face.
“I never pegged you as being up for some kinky fuckery in the men’s room, but sometimes it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for, eh?” Tom snickers, walking past us and towards the urinals. “Let me know if you need any help, Ana. I’ll be glad to offer my services wherever you want.”
“Fucking piece of shit!” Michael bursts out, turning to attack Tom. Surprised by his outburst, I pull him back by his arm.
“Michael, stop. He’s not worth it.” Knowing I really shouldn’t be in here, I yank at him. “Come, let’s go somewhere a bit more appropriate.” Michael, breathing heavily with anger and his teeth clenching, luckily complies with my order as he turns back towards me.
“Yeah, like a bed,” Tom replies, causing Michael to try and yank out of my hold again, but I hold firm. There’s no way I’m letting Michael get in to trouble because of me.
“Michael, stop. Let’s get out of here.” I yank his hand in mine and tug, trying to get him to the door.
Tom finishes and does up his fly, turning to us with a shit-eating grin. “Yeah, run along, Michael, and tell Ana what happened to your eye. I’m sure she’ll be eager to know how it all went down.”
Michael grits his teeth, and confused as hell, I manage to pull him out of the toilets and drag him to the kitchenette where, thankfully, no one is.
“What happened?” I ask again, turning to face him.
Michael averts his gaze. “It was nothing. It was just an arrest I made yesterday. The perp didn’t like it when I tried to cuff him.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t believe you.”
He fixes me with a rather steely gaze, which surprises me. “Believe what you want, but that’s what happened.”
Feeling angry at his flippant behavior towards me, I start to turn away. “Okay, I’ll just go and ask Tom then. I’m sure he’ll love nothing more than to tell me the actual truth.”
A hand grabs the top of my arm, gripping and yanking me back. “Okay,” Michael growls out in a whisper. “I will tell you, but you have to promise not to lose your shit.”
Frowning, I shrug my shoulders and let out a frustrated sigh. “Just tell me.”
Michael releases his own breath, raking his hand through his dark blond locks. “I bumped into Jake last night, and he made it very clear that he didn’t want me anywhere near you. He thinks I’m trying to take his place.” He grips onto the kitchen counter, pausing a moment. “I told him that he had no position for me to replace since he knocked up your mother—”
“Oh, shit,” I sigh out, my posture slumping against the counter.
“Someone had to tell him, Ana. He acts like he owns you—”
“It still wasn’t a very clever thing to say, was it, Michael?” I ask, shaking my head. “I don’t condone his behavior. He should never have punched you. I’m guessing that’s