Page 68 of By A Thread

“$5,327.94.” She rattled off the amount that I too knew by heart. It was exactly what stood between my father and another month in this facility.

“I’m aware,” I said. “I believe it’s due next Saturday.” I’d memorized that, too, from the thirty-day eviction notice she’d so helpfully sent me. It was the day after my first paycheck from the magazine. And I needed every dime of that paycheck to make this payment.

She pinched her lips together tighter, making the hot pink disappear completely. Her eyes narrowed behind purple-rimmed glasses. “I’d certainly hate to have to tell the nurses to start packing your father’s things.”

Her tone suggested otherwise.

“That won’t be necessary,” I assured her. My phone chimed. It was time to get back to the office and earn that paycheck.

23

Ally

That afternoon, while Linus was out doing whatever Linus did, I was summoned for a meeting with the graphics team. I arrived early and was surprised to find coffee, tea, and muffins already neatly arranged on the impossibly hip glass conference table.

I was just reaching for a chocolate chip muffin when the door opened behind me and Dominic strolled into the room.

“Hi,” I said, guiltily dropping the muffin.

After our bar shift confessional, I wasn’t really sure where we stood.

“I heard you were late today,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Another emergency.”

“This one was a good one,” I said. “Something I didn’t want to miss out on.”

He studied me silently, and I realized how that must have sounded. His thumb was tapping against his pant leg. A tiny little tick.

“I take my job seriously, Dom. Don’t think that I was blowing off work for something frivolous.”

“It must have been good for you to give up two hours of pay.”

My spine stiffened, and my shoulders ratcheted up under my ears.

“Why don’t you tell me what your problem is instead of beating around the bush, Charming?”

“I want to know what’s going on.”

“It’s none of your business,” I told him. “We’re not friends. We’re not lovers. I work for you. The only relationship that exists between us is a professional one. We both made the call, remember?”

“You missed work. I was concerned.”

“Why? Lots of people miss work. I’m going to make up the hours.”

“What do you want me to say, Ally? That I care?”

I shook my head vehemently. I most definitely didnotwant him to say that. And I certainly didn’t want him to mean it. “I don’t want to play games. Not today and certainly not with you.”

“Then tell me what’s going on.”

“Why do you even care? I’m not some mystery to be solved. I’m a private person with a lot of shit happening right now that doesn’t affect you.”

“It does affect me when it keeps you from showing up for work.” Frustration crackled off him like he was holding a live wire.

“This conversation is ridiculous.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he shot back.

“I’m not sharing my personal life with you,” I told him. “Don’t take it personally. I have things going on that are easier to deal with than to talk about. And if you recall our conversation last night, we aren’t going to pursue any kind of relationship outside of work.”