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“But if I wore it every day it would lose its charm pretty quickly, don’t you think?”
“On any other woman, absolutely.”
I swallowed hard, my insides turning to liquid. He gave me a knowing smile. He knew what he did to me. He pinched my bottom lip between his thumb and forefinger, applying only the slightest pressure, gently asserting his ownership of my mouth. His gaze flickered to the cheerful chatter of two of the cafe waitresses arriving and he scowled at them through the black-out windows. “This place is too fucking busy. You should get in there before I start something I can’t finish.”
“Okay,” I said shakily as he pulled away. “I’ll see you tonight?” He gave me a dark look before slipping his Ray-Bans back on that told me yeah, I was definitely seeing him tonight and it was going to be a hell of a ride. I hopped out of the car and headed into work, trying not to think about how badly he wanted me and how deeply I had fucked up.
Was it duplicitous not to tell Alfie about my doctor’s appointment? Perhaps it was, but I couldn’t face telling him what an idiot I’d been. Again. He’d probably have an aneurysm. Or a stroke. Or both. He’d said that he trusted me with my pills. It no longer worried him that I might dupe him into having a billionaire-baby with me, and now I was messing that up.
My van was still parked at my house but one of the benefits of living in a small town was that you could get wherever you wanted to within about twenty minutes on foot. So, with my appointment at 3.30, I set off around 3.00, figuring that I could get in, get a fresh batch of baby blockers, and be back at my desk in time for Alfie to pick me up.
I stepped through the automatic doors into the waiting room and registered my arrival on the check-in touch screen.
I took a seat and was about to reach for the magazine on the seat next to me when my phone went off. The receptionist gave me a stern eye and pointed at the‘switch your mobile devices off’sign. I gave her an apologetic wave and checked my phone, trying to keep it hidden in my bag so she wouldn’t notice. I should have known who it would be.
Are you unwell?
A.
God damn GPS! I ground my teeth together in frustration.
Damn it, Alfie! Stalking is a sickness you know.
I glanced up at the sound of a loud cough and found the receptionist still eyeing me over her half-moon spectacles. My phone buzzed again.
What’s wrong?
I bit my lip. This wasn’t something that I should tell him over text, but he was worried. He hadn’t even signed off with his usual ‘A.’ this time. The receptionist began tapping her pen so I quickly texted him back.
I’m fine, really. I have to go, I’ll talk to you later x
That would have to do. I switched my phone off and waved it at the receptionist with an apologetic smile. She wasn’t impressed.
As with every health care appointment I’d ever had, the actual appointment time meant nothing. 3.30 came and went and 40 minutes later the receptionist finally called my name. Two minutes later I was in my doctor’s office, trying to explain to a man old enough to be my grandfather how I’d been stupidenough to lose two packets of pills within the same week. He gave me a stern talking to along with my prescription and I left his office bright red but relieved.
The waiting room was unusually quiet as I made my way out. The two receptionists were staring slack-jawed over the counter. I followed their wide-eyed gaze to find Alfie Tell sitting on a plastic waiting room chair, reading an old copy of Cosmopolitan.
“Alfie, what are you doing here?” I hissed when I finally found my voice.
He looked up, his brows raised with false nonchalance and held up the article he was reading.‘69 ways to orgasm.’
“Research.” I heard the receptionist sigh behind me and I rolled my eyes. Alfie’s actions might be playful but his gaze told me a very different story. Mr Tell was not amused. “Come.” He tossed the magazine onto the chair as he stood. “Let’s not cause a scene.” He walked by me, leaving me to follow him outside. A group of teenage boys were gathered around, ogling the Lamborghini, but they scattered as soon as Alfie approached. I didn’t blame them.
Instead of opening my door, Alfie leaned against it, forcing me to have this conversation out on the street. It was smart. He knew I was more likely to behave myself in public. The man could put me over a barrel without even touching me.
He said nothing, simply waited expectantly for an explanation. I sighed, resigned to the storm that was about to head my way.
“I lost my birth control pills again so I went to get more.”
He didn’t react, didn’t even cock an eyebrow. “And you were planning to keep that from me? You didn’t think that a lapse in your birth control was something I needed to know about?”
I opened my mouth to argue, then shut it again. He had a point. I hadn’t thought about it like that. “I fucked up. I’m sorry.”I meant my apology but I had a feeling that wasn’t going to be enough.
“You lied to me. Again.”Again?My stomach lurched. Did he know about Bradley? My college acceptance? Or was he just referring to my little adventure at Harrington House the other night?
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“‘Sorry’ is wearing out, Lola.” His words sent an icy chill down my spine.