“No lunch. I'm busy.”

“We'll see how the five minutes goes,” he insists.

***

The air outside is frigid, but my office is nice and toasty. I start dozing off, reading a manuscript at my desk. It is very interesting, but I have been so tired lately. I’ve been staying up late at night, working. I need a cup of coffee to revive me. I call to the reception desk.

“Mel, is there any coffee made?”

“I'm not sure. I'll check.”

“It's okay, I may just go to Dunkin’ to get a cup.”

“You have someone coming at one o'clock, right?”

“I forgot about him. I'll be right back.”

I grab some money and put it in the pocket of my suit jacket then grab my phone. I don't go anywhere without it. I walk down the street in my winter gear. The threat of snow is in the air. I'm all about the snow. Thankfully I have the kind of job where I can work from my home if I get snowed in.

The line to the donut shop is out the door. I am going to wait patiently because I need my coffee. It’s like a drug. As I get closer to the counter, I stare at the donuts. I could probably take them all out in one sitting. I brush away that thought from my mind.

“One large coffee with cream and extra sugar.”

“You're sweet enough,” I hear someone say from the back of the line. I quickly turn around and see Parker standing in the back of the line. I grab my drug and head to the back.

“I stopped in to get us coffee for our meeting.”

“That was nice of you.”

“Since you already have yours, we can go,” he says.

“What about you?”

“I'm okay.”

I feel nervous. What could he possibly want with me? He clearly knows what happened with me and Chase. We walk in silence for a minute or so.

“Why won't you give me the time of day?” he asks.

“I'm just not interested. I have too much on my plate right now, and Chase is your friend.”

“Chase is in love with Megan whether he wants to admit it or not.”

“Well, that's his business. I could care less.”

“But I'm here.”

“Listen, I know what kind of guy you are,” I say, waving my hand.

“You have me all wrong.”

“Do I?” I raise my eyebrow in question.

“You do. I really like you.”

I don't know what to say to him. I don't want to get involved with anyone right now, and he won't take no for an answer.

“Well, since we had our little meeting, we don't have to meet upstairs,” I say, trying to give him a hint.

“You're not gonna let me walk you up?”

“Fine, but that's it. Then you go.”

He smirks. “You're feisty.”

“You’re thick-headed,” I quip back.

“That's okay. I'll break you.”

“I doubt it.”

My cell phone starts vibrating. It’s Melanie. “Where are you?” she whispers.

“On the elevator.”

“Hurry up and get up here. I can't say. You're going to be pissed.”

“Oh Lord, I'm almost there.”

What the hell is going on? Parker is with me so can't be about him. “Parker, maybe you should go. There's some business I have to tend to in my office.”

Not listening to me, he steps off the elevator.

Through the double glass doors, I see a woman throwing her arms in the air while she yells at Melanie.

“What in the world is going on in there?” I say out loud.

“Oh no,” he says out loud.

“What?”

“Let's go inside,” he says, ushering me through the door.

“You know her?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Great, after you.”

CHAPTER 23

Parker

AS I EXIT THE ELEVATOR, I see Megan through the double doors going off on the receptionist. She really has serious issues. Hailey has no idea at this point who she is. I enter the office first, but Megan heads straight for Hailey, who is behind me.

“You,” she says, pointing in Hailey’s direction. “You home-wrecker. You tried stealing my man. You better keep your grimy little hands to yourself,” she yells at the top of her lungs. She can be heard throughout the office, causing people to come out to see what is going on.

“Who the hell are you?” Hailey snaps back.

“I’m Chase’s fiancée, Megan, and I know all about you.”

“There’s nothing to know.”

“That’s what you think. I saw your car at his house, and I had someone run your license plate and got all of your info,” Megan confirmed, acting like a crazy-ass stalker. “I was debating about coming up here, but then I saw P getting out of his car before he disappeared. So! What is it? Are you fucking both of them?”

Hailey has a perplexed look on her face. I’m also confused, because I lied to Megan about Hailey. Why would she all of a sudden think Hailey wanted Chase? God only knows, but I have to intervene because this could get ugly.

“Meg, you have this all wrong… completely,” I say, trying to calm her.

“How am I wrong? I know what I see.”

“Hailey isn’t with me or Chase. We went to school with her. She’s just a friend. We met back up with her at the reunion.”

I don’t dare say that Chase thought he had found his mystery woman. She would flip the fuck out right here. I look at Hailey, trying to catch her eye, but she won’t look at me. I know she probably thinks I’m involved in this somehow. I really like her and have nothing to do with Megan’s craziness.

“Parker, just get out of here and take your trash with you,” Hailey says with an even tone.

“Hailey, you have it all wrong,” I plead.

Megan is about to go off because Hailey called her trash, and I need Hailey to know how wrong she is.

CHAPTER 24

Hailey

THIS GIRL NEEDS to go somewhere. I don’t know who she thinks she is, coming into my place of business and acting like an animal. I’m sure Parker and Chase set this whole thing up. I plan to call Chase and tell him off, too. He and Megan can live happily ever after for all I care. I’m so angry.

“Why don’t you leave and take your trash with you,” I say to Parker as he stands there with a blank expression on his face.

Before I know it, Parker’s hands are on my face, and he kisses me. Shocked, I kiss him back. The feel of his lips to mine does something to me, but at the moment, I’m not really sure what it is. It is definitely different than when Chase and I kissed at his house. I am conflicted. Reality sets in, and I push him away. He stands there, staring at me for a brief second.

“Parker, get out.”

“Hailey, you can't deny it,” he whispers.

“Get over yourself,” I snap. He is right I can’t deny that the kiss was great, but I'll never admit that.

Megan interrupts, “It's all so touching. Really it is, but I know the truth. You can't fool me. I'll have my eyes on you, hoe.”

“What did you just call me?” I take two steps forward.

“You heard me,” she says, not stepping down.

Parker gets between us. “We're leaving. Come on, Megan… now! Hailey, I'll call you,” he yells, dragging Megan out the door.

“Don't bother,” I shout back. I am fuming. Why do I always get put in unfortunate situations?

I walk into my office and slam the door. I am in kill mode—not literally, but I'm close. I dial Chase’s number. There's no answer. I dial three times. I don't even care. I'm sure he's nearby, laughing with the others. It wouldn't be the first time I've been laughed at. Finally he picks up the phone.

“Hailey, is that you?”

“Yes, you have some nerve, sending your girlfriend and your so-called best friend to my place of business to make an ass out of me. One wants to call me home-wrecker... the nerve. She's the cheating bitch,” I yell into the phone. “Then the other one, he has the balls to kiss me in front of everyone. What does he think, he's gonna get me in bed?”