The question that had been on the tip of my tongue somehow slipped out against my better judgment.
“What if I got another job? Would that change things?”
He seemed to be struggling with how to respond to that. I braced myself because I knew the answer to that question was a game changer. It would prove his true feelings once and for all.
Rush reached into his pocket for a cigarette before lighting up. It had seemed like he was making a conscious effort not to smoke up until I drove him to it just now.
His eyes almost looked pained when he said, “I like hanging out with you. But I’m not right for you, Gia.”
“Then the boss thing is just an excuse? It’s really not the reason you won’t date me.”
“It’s not the only issue, no. The issue is me…not you.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not you. It’s me. What an original line! I should put that in my sucky book.”
My little interrogation must have angered Rush more than I knew, because he was quiet the rest of the walk to the parking garage.
Once we got to the car and on the road, the silent treatment continued as he proceeded to just smoke the entire time.
I was mad at myself for bringing up the subject of our relationship. He’d made his intentions clear, and I had to accept that. But there was still the fact that I wasn’t sure if I fully believed he didn’t want more with me. He was clearly attracted to me and protective of me. Was he scared? Or just not interested? It didn’t matter. As soon as he’d pulled the old “it’s not you, it’s me,” I was done.
I couldn’t stand the quiet anymore, so I was the first to speak.
“You said we were gonna play fortunately-unfortunately on the ride back.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not in the mood right now.”
Ignoring him, I said, “Okay…I’ll start. Fortunately, one of us doesn’t stay angry for very long and knows how to break the ice.”
He gave me side-eye and surprised me when he started to play along. “Unfortunately, Gia decided to break the ice by reminding me of this stupid game.” He shook his head and blew smoke out the window.
“Fortunately, Gia’s not sensitive, otherwise you calling her game stupid would have upset her.”
“Unfortunately, I think Gia is sensitive and takes certain things personally when she really shouldn’t.”
“Fortunately, Gia doesn’t have to be told twice, so you don’t have to worry about her inquiring about the status of our relationship anymore ever again.”
He lit up another cigarette before he said, “Unfortunately, I think that’s for the best.”
“Fortunately, I now understand that we are, in fact, just friends.”
His expression dampened. A few seconds passed before he responded with, “Unfortunately, I have to apologize for my actions that have led you to believe otherwise.”
“Fortunately—for you—I forgive you.”
“Unfortunately, this means I can’t sleep in your bed anymore, either.”
I admired his apology, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to stick it to him.
“Fortunately, now that you’ve made your feelings clear, this frees me up to accept the date I’ve been putting off with Rhys, the roof bartender.”
“Bring the kegs up to the rooftop bar,” I snapped at the shadow of a man passing by my office. The hall was dark, but I knew exactly who it was. The asshole had been on my radar ever since Gia dropped a bomb in the car on the way home from the City.
“Me?” Rhys took a step back into the doorway of the office. I didn’t bother to lift my head from the paperwork I had my nose buried in.
“Who the fuck else would I be talking to? Is there another person in the vicinity?” I still didn’t look up.
“Umm. Oak usually carries them upstairs. Those things weigh a hundred-sixty pounds.”
Of course, I knew exactly what they weighed, and I was pretty sure that the things outweighed his skinny ass. I looked up, my bloodshot eyes beaded with contempt. “Are you saying you’re incapable of performing your job?”
“Uh…no. No. I’ll…I’ll get them up there.” He continued to stand there, staring.
“Are you waiting for something?” I bit out. “Get to work.”
“Umm. Sure. Right. Yes, boss.” Even though he said that, when he saw me get up and head over to the door, the pansy-ass stayed frozen in place. For a heartbeat, when his eyes grew wide, and I thought he might shit his pants, I almost felt bad for the guy. Almost. Though that notion wore off before I slammed the door in the fucker’s face.
For the last three days, I’d managed to avoid Gia. I’d been planning a renovation of one of the rental properties I owned out here, and the permits finally came through from the town. While the demolition crew I hired ripped out the dated kitchen and back deck, I spent most of the days meeting subcontractors to get quotes on doing the remodel. Even though I could afford the extra cost of hiring a GC to do that type of shit, I liked to manage my own construction projects. And God knows, I could use the fucking distraction from spending all my time watching over Gia at this place.
My cell phone rang, and the first genuine smile I had in days appeared on my face. I sat back into my chair while I answered. “Well if it isn’t the birthday girl. Sleep in? I called you two hours ago.”
“I was actually out getting supplies,” my mother said. “The phone rang while I was driving, and I don’t know how to hook up the hands-free thing. You’ll have to do that for me this weekend.”
“Alright.”
“I bought a new set of acrylics and some extra canvas. I’m hoping the sunset is as beautiful as it was last year out there.”
“The weather is supposed to be nice. When are you coming out?”
“This afternoon, if you don’t mind. I know I usually come out on Friday, but I need to get back early to help out at the summer cookout they’re having at church.”
“Of course. Whatever you want. You’re welcome anytime. You know that. Let yourself in when you get here, and I’ll try to be home early from the restaurant. I’ll bring home a nice birthday dinner with me.”
“Actually…I was thinking of coming to the restaurant for the sunset tonight to paint, if that won’t interrupt your busy time or anything. I won’t take up much room, just a chair in the corner of the rooftop bar. I don’t even need to bring my easel.”
“Bring anything you want. I’ll close the fucking place if having other people around distracts you.”
“Heathcliff…your language.”
I was transported back to being ten again. “Sorry. I’ll try to watch my mouth. But can you lay off the Heathcliff around my place of business. No one knows my name is anything other than just Rush. I’m like Madonna…only with a bigger di…. Never mind, just call me Rush at work, please, Ma.”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
It was almost five by the time I emerged from my office. I hated to sit behind a desk all day, which was the primary reason it took me the entire afternoon to catch up on all the paperwork I’d been avoiding. The kitchen staff had arrived and were here prepping for the start of the dinner rush when I stopped in.
“I need something that isn’t on tonight’s menu made, probably for about seven o’clock.”
“Sure thing, Rush. Whatta ya need?” Fred, the head chef asked. He’d been my first hire when I took over the place five years ago.
“Salmon Oscar. Just like you used to make at McCormick and Schmick’s.”
He pointed a pair of tongs in his hand at me and smiled. “You got it. Whatever you’re in the mood for.”
“It’s actually not for me. But I appreciate it. I’ll probably just order a burger to eat later.”
“Hot date?”
“It’s my mom’s birthday. She’ll be here in a little while.”
Fred winked. “I’ll make it better than I made it when I worked at McCormick and Schmick’s, then.”
I figured I’d head upstairs to section off a little area for my mom to paint before she got here.