Page 66 of Mr. Green

I nod and give a small smile. “Thanks again. See you soon!”

If I didn’t know better, I’d say my feet were attached to cement blocks. It’s so hard to walk away from this guy. I have to do it, though. I have a life I have to get back to. I can’t just be his sex doll at home, waiting up for him to get home while I cook in his kitchen.

Actually...

Lana!

That sounds like a nice life, but it can’t bemylife right now. I have to get myself together. I have a business and a marathon I need to get ready for. Focus.

I ascend the stairs with Queenie right behind me. I wave one last time at the top of the steps, then I make myself sit down before I run out to him and jump in his arms.

~

After a boring flight, I’m home. Andrew drops Queenie and I off at my apartment. I take my time walking up to my place. Being here doesn’t feel like home anymore, which is strange. All I want to do is go back to Grant’s house.

Scarlett’s wedding is this coming weekend so I’ll be seeing him soon enough. It’s only four days. I can get back to my life. My life where I don’t eat out. I run, and weightlift, and work at the gym. Yeah, I have things to do, places to be. I don’t need to be a needy little girl right now.

I walk into my apartment with renewed purpose. SinceI already ran with Grant, I don’t need to go on another one. I do need to call my mom. She’s going to see I have a date with someone at this wedding. Since Scarlett has been like a second mom to her growing up, my parents are invited. That’s a whole other thing I don’t want to think about, but at least they already know Grant. It’s been a while since they’ve seen him, but they know him.

I dial her number as Queenie watches me on the couch. I go sit by her and pet her. Emotional support to get through this phone call. I’m sure she’ll ask me when we’ll be having kids. I roll my eyes at the thought.

“Hi, my little one!” she answers.

“Hey, Mom. How’s it going?”

“Good. Your dad and I just got back from a new restaurant. You’d love it! You’ll have to come with us next time.”

“Oh cool, cool. So, I wanted to give you a heads up. That guy I told you I was talking to...”

“Yeah?” I can see her clasping her hands together getting ready to jump.

“We’re going to the wedding together.”

“He proposed?”

“What?” I pinch my eyebrows together. “No. I don’t think you understand the process of talking to someone, Mom.”

“You said you were talking last time and now you’ll be each other’s date. Wouldn’t the next step be to get engaged?”

“No. The next step would be to become official and not date anyone else.”

“Why would he date anyone else? He has you.”

“It’s just a game people play when they’re older now.”

“I don’t want you playing that game. Tell him it’s marriage or no deal.”

I scoff. “I’m not going to tell him that.”

“Fine. Who is it?”

“You know him, actually.” I play with a strand of my hair coming out from my messy bun. “It’s Josh’s old friend,Grant. You know, from high school.”

“That cute little boy you used to watch from the window?”

Yes.“No. I never watched anyone from the window. I never cared what Josh and his friends were doing.”

“Huh. I could’ve sworn I saw you numerous times watching them play. You always tried to go with them too.”