About Last Night (About Last Night #1)(70)

The very moment I sat at my desk, I started to log in, when I heard her. “Mia, where have you been?”

I shut my eyes tight and sighed. Standing, I tried to explain, “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Dietrich. My phone was switched off and I never switch my phone off, so the alarm didn’t go off, and I had to get a ride here.” I laughed humorlessly. “It wasn’t the best morning I’ve ever had. I got here as fast as I could.” I added mentally, Please don’t fire me.

Addison looked over me, her eyes searching my face. “You look a little flushed. Maybe you should sit down a minute.”

My head snapped up.

Huh?

“I-uh…” I sat.

She perched herself on the edge of my desk. “Is everything all right?”

I blinked in confusion. “Um, yeah. Apart from my being late, that is.”

She waved a hand at me. “We’ve all been there, right?” Then she smiled, and I almost swooned at the sight. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”

Addison stood. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work.” She walked away a short while before turning back and adding on another smile, “Oh, and Mia, that sweater is to die for.”

She turned and walked into her office, closing the door behind her. The office was silent as I muttered a weak, “Thank you.”

Slowly, I turned to Ella, who was standing, mouth agape, matching my own. I shrugged at her as if to ask, What the hell was that? Her brows rose and she gently shook her head as if to reply, No freaking idea, dude.

I turned back to my computer and got the hell to work before Addison decided to change her mind and fire me.





Chapter ThirtyThree



Quinn




“What are you doing?” I yelled into the cab of my car.

Harry responded on speakerphone, sounding slightly baffled, “It’s morning. And you’re awake. It’s morning and you’re awake. What gives?”

I would not be explaining that I spent the night at his sister’s. That would be cause for a busted lip, and I’d understand it if he did. I wouldn’t even hold a grudge. “I had an early one and woke up at the crack of dawn. I’m hungry.”

Harry snorted. “You’re always hungry. The pier?”

I grinned. “You know it. If you get there first,” which he always did, “order the French toast and a latte.”

“Got it.”

I hung up and drove to the pier to have an early breakfast with my pal, Har.




Harry watched me carefully as I ate my French toast. I always asked for a banana and peanut butter on the side. There was a method to the madness though. You needed to smear the toast with peanut butter, top it with sliced banana, and then drown the f*ckers in maple syrup. It would always and forever be my favorite food.

I cut a piece, put it in my mouth, and groaned. I opened my eyes to find Harry watching me with raised brows, so I garbled, “You wan’ some?”

He shook his head, nursing his coffee. “What’s up with you? Why are you being all weird?”

I paused mid-chew. I was being weird? How? My shoulders jerked in an awkward shrugged. “I’m good.”

Harry nodded. “I know. I can see that. The question is why? Why are you good?” He paused a moment. “You’re not still seeing that client are you?”

Shit. It always came back to that, didn’t it? “No. That client is officially off my list.” I cleared my throat and uttered, “Actually, I was thinking about taking a break from work.”

I watched my best friend inhale his coffee and choke on it. He spluttered, coughing, and wheezed out, “Like a vacation? For how long?”

I ate another piece of French toast, chewing slowly. “Yeah, like a vacation.” Then I added, “Permanently.”

Harry leaned forward, eyes wide. “You’re quitting?”

“I think so. Yeah.”

He sat back, astounded. “What brought this on?”

I breathed in deeply then exhaled slowly. “I don’t know. I’ve got more money than I could ever use in one lifetime. I’ve had more than my share of women, and even though I could still do it, my heart’s not in it. Sex is becoming a chore. I never thought I’d think of it that way, but I am.” I toyed with my fork. “I’m thinking of going back to school.”

Harry’s mouth gaped. “I don’t even know what to say here. Maybe…congratulations? What do you want to study?”

“Criminal justice,” I answered immediately.

“No shit,” he said in admiration.

I sipped my coffee. “Well, yeah. It gives you a step up if you want to become a cop. After I finish studying, I’ll enroll at the local PD. If everything looks good, I’ll go into a twelve-week training program, and then I’ll be busting caps in everyone’s asses pretty much all the time, just because. Best thing is that I can study and work at the same time.” I blinked down at my plate. “I can be one of those regular Joes. I’d have steady work hours, do something worthwhile, and be respectable, you know?”

His eyes narrowed at me. “It’s a girl.”

“What?”

He shook his head at me and smiled. “It’s because of a girl. You want to stop, because of a girl.” He barked a laugh. “Never thought I’d see the day. Who is she?”