Page 77 of The Monster I Loved

I know you’re seeing these.

Did you wear that dress because you know it’s my favorite color?

Or just what it does to me?

I narrowed my eyes at Thad and crossed both arms across my chest. He was obviously bored. When I saw him pick up the phone again, I shook my head.

What do you think of the name Dracula if it’s a girl?

I wasn’t planning to name my child after a Halloween movie character, no matter how much I loved the holiday.

How about Michael or Freddy if it’s a boy?

That wasn’t a surprise. Those were two of his favorite movies. I shook my head discreetly. Well, I thought I did.

“Summer, is something the matter?”

I looked up to find the entire room looking at me. “Huh?”

“You shook your head. Do you have a problem with what I just said?” the man asked.

My eyes darted toward Thad, keeping them wide and pleading so that he’d save me.

“Yes, Summer, why were you shaking your head? What was said that you don’t agree with?” he asked in an authoritative tone.

Where was the professionalism when he was distracting me throughout the whole meeting?

“I slept badly on my neck. I was just stretching it.”

All eyes in the room stared at me. Finally, Thad jumped in. “This meeting is getting redundant. Let’s end here.”

He stood and left the room, the others following. Thank goodness that was over. I could strangle that man, but not in a way that would hurt him. Olivia was right; it was like night and day with the two of us.

The Starlight buildingproject was getting underway, with the new units attached for families in need, and I felt more passionate now about helping the project to the finish line. Initially, Thad planned to dedicate about ten percent of the units to low-income families. I managed to talk him into raising that number to twenty. Who said I couldn’t do any good away from my legal aid career?

A mug being placed on my desk interrupted my thoughts.

“Drink up,” Thad said.

Nervously, I scanned the surrounding cubicles: empty. He was looking at a computer, and she was chatting on the phone. Everyone was distracted. Which was a good thing, since I knew they’d all want an explanation as to why the boss was now making me a personal cup of tea.

“Can you not make it so obvious?”

Scratching the back of his neck, Thad looked like he was trying to solve a puzzle, so I helped him.

“People will suspect that we’re . . . you know . . .” I whispered.

He shrugged. “Were we keeping it a secret?”

Well. Not really. But I wasn’t ready to explain to all of Tarrytown that I wasn’t taking illicit drugs or in need of a psych ward visit.

I was about to say just that when John Fitzgerald appeared behind us.

“Well, I guess the announcement isn’t really needed,” he said loudly, gathering stares.

Thad lifted both palms and stepped back as if the matter was out of his hands now. I scowled at him, and he winked.

“I made a mistake a few weeks back announcing the engagement of my son to the wrong person. Well, the heart wants what it does. Let me clarify. Thaddeus will marry Summer Cohen.”