Page 58 of Not How I Saw That Going

He sighs. “I’m not sure. I lost track somewhere around four hundred.”

Crew does the same thing. But he usually only makes it to twenty-five.

“Lyndi?”

“Yes?”

“I have food.”

I drop my phone and run to open the door. “Why didn’t you say that sooner?”

He holds up the stuffed Chinese bag as an apology. He remembered. “I had to keep some leverage.”

I’m not sure which is more enticing, the food or the man offering it.

I take it inside, leaving the door open for him to follow.

He follows me in and leans against the counter. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have used you like that.”

My hand hovers over the small stack of plates in the cupboard, my fingers twitching with excitement. I’m upset because I was caught off guard, and for a solid twenty minutes on my way home had plotted his demise, but then I realized something. One, I deserved it after the whole TikTok thing, and two, Ward Preston, the strong and capable fireman who doesn’t know how to smile, needsmyhelp. This could be very fun.

I’m intrigued by how he is going to worm his way out of this. It should be entertaining, at the very least.

I resume getting out the plates. Three plates. If he promises to be nice, I’ll let him stay.

“I accept your apology. Only because you remembered the food.”

My hands tremble as I set the food on the table. Ward is in my apartment, ready to eat with Crew and me. It’s homey, but at the same time, I feel vulnerable letting him into this piece of our lives. I shake my hands out, then motion for him to sit.

An envelope on the edge of the counter catches my eye. This is the second letter from Rodney this month. I’ve ignored him for five years. When will he stop?

I drop the letter in the trash, clearing my thoughts of Rodney. I fill up some water cups and return to the table. “So, tell me what you just got me into.”

“Well,” he clears his throat and waits for me to sit before he starts dishing up a plate. He gets points for being a gentleman. “My parents have a huge gala coming up,” he continues. “It’s one of those dumb things where they claim it’s for charity, but really it’s just to show off their success in the family business. The one they want me to take over.” He says the wordbusinesslike it’s a curse.

“What’s the family business?”

“My parents are property developers. They own a lot of land and use it to make themselves richer.” His eyebrows furrow and he shakes his head. “Anyway, my mom insists I take Sophie to the gala. And now Sophie wants to get back together.”

“You don’t want that?” Is the disbelief evident in my voice? The woman was beautiful. A dark-haired beauty queen. She would look perfect on his arm for some fancy event.

“No.” He shakes his head adamantly. “I don’t have time for a relationship right now. And I won’t be guilted into one because of my mother.”

I snort, and his frown deepens. “Can you not see the irony in this?”

“Yes, I do. I’m sorry to drag you into it. But I don’t know how else to get them off my back.” He says with a hopelessness that feels real. Feels…familiar.

There’s more to his reasoning than just the words coming from his mouth.

“How long did you date Sophie?” A smidge of jealousy causes my voice to rise in pitch.

“About a year in high school. She was something else,” he says, sticking a bite of orange chicken in his mouth. “But she’s from an influential family,” Ward continues after chewing and swallowing. “And that image is all my mom cares about.”

My mind hangs onto a single word.Influential.That’s the kind of woman his parents expect him to date.

I’m not influential; I’m barely fluent. Am I just an opportunity to get out from under his mother’s thumb?

I’m about to ask when Crew runs in.