Page 89 of Not How I Saw That Going

Caleb saunters up, takes one look at my face, and purses his lips. “Oh look, the grump is back. Here I was hoping your girlfriend had finally cured you.”

I’m not a grump. I’m upset with myself.Hugedifference. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Not yet.” He beams. “Is that what’s got your panties in a twist today, Sunshine?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m fine,” I grind out.

“Clearly.” He points to the screwdriver I’m driving into the edge of the toolbox. “Why would I assume anything different?”

I drop the screwdriver and slam the lid shut. Maybe I should stay away from sharp objects for a minute.

“I thought I’d find you here.” The voice raises the hair on the back of my neck.

Caleb is quicker on his feet than I am and throws a giant sarcastic smile on his face. “Is that the great Sophie Donahough? I thought you joined a witch cult. Did they finally find the spell to cast you out?”

I turn in time to catch Sophie’s scowl. They couldn’t stand each other in high school. Some things never change.

“I’m not here to see you.” A tight smile stretches across her plastic features.

“You’d have to look away from the mirror to find anyone but yourself,” Caleb fires back.

I’m not a fan of her either, but this is just delaying the torture. I interrupt whatever snide remark Sophie is about to throw back at Caleb. “What are you doing here, Sophie?”

Her facial features shift into an angelic grin. “I brought you muffins.”

I eye the covered basket like it’s a bomb. Do normal people bring muffins in baskets in real life?

“Thanks.” I make no move to take the muffins, but Caleb doesn’t need approval and grabs them from her.

“So.” She keeps up a smile that, at this point, must hurt her. “I wanted to confirm your suit color for the gala.”

I frown. “I’m bringing my girlfriend to the gala.”

My curt remark doesn’t deter her. “Yeah, but after the auction, I want to make sure we match.”

So that was the plan.

A familiar redhead enters the station, capturing my attention with her beauty and carrying enough light with her to fill the darkness inside me. I don’t deserve her, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting her all the same.

“I never said I’d do the auction.” I grab a grease rag and scrub at my grimy fingers. I know I won’t be able to get out of it. If my mother doesn’t force me up there, the rest of the guys will. For some odd reason, they aren’t stoked to be sold to the highest-paying bidder.

A delicate hand grips my arm, and Sophie peers up at me. “I hope you change your mind.”

Thirty One

Lyndi

Idon’twanttobe at the fire station today. After chasing Crew around the park for two hours earlier and receiving another unanswered call from Rodney, I’m beat. Emotionally. Physically. But I already had my final day of cleaning set up, and I need to get this debt off my shoulders and firmly behind me.

It would be so much easier if the man currently stressing me out wasn’t here.

And he’s not the only one here. Sophie is as well. She sure has a knack for showing up in all the wrong places.

She grabs Ward’s arm, and my stomach tightens. I know how he feels about her; I’m not concerned about that. What I don’t know is how he feels about me. Yesterday I could have sworn there was something between us—I felt it when he leaned in to kiss me. But then, like a gentleman, he fixed my toilet and left.

And they say romance is dead.

Something bumps against my shoulder, and I turn to lock eyes with Sophie.