Page 31 of Destined Chaos
“Well, you wouldn’t move in with me, so I’m moving in with you. That’s what people do when they’re in love.”
I stepped into the foyer with her crutches and watched the drama play out.
“We aren’t in love. I broke up with you. Why can’t you understand that?”
“I thought you were just being indecisive. Women don’t break up with me, baby.”
Libby sighed and almost fell as I handed her the crutches.
“Who’s your friend?” Peter asked.
“This is awkward, honey,” I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. Peter watched the movement, and his eye twitched. “You didn’t tell me he was living with you.”
Libby pressed her lips together in a fine line. “That’s because he’s not.”
I held out my free hand. “I’m Hugh Bennett, and I’m sorry about all this, but you know how it is when it’s love at first sight.”
“Libbs?” Peter asked. “Did you tell Howie here that you don’t do serious?”
“It’s Hugh, and it’s none of your business. Now please, give me back my key, and I’ll send over your stuff.”
Peter remained unmoving.
“Now!” she yelled and stabbed the air in the direction of the door. “You’ve gone too far this time, Peter. So, let me make this clear. We aren’t dating. I’m not getting back together with you. I don’t have cold feet, and if you ever try to do something like this again, I’ll call the law. Have I made myself clear?”
“You weren’t kidding when you said Slaughter House was evil. Look what it’s done to you, and you’ve only been back a few days. You need to sell it, Libby, and when you come crawling back to me and begging for me to take you back, I will.”
“I think she’s made her choice,” I added.
“Don’t make this worse than it is,” Libby whispered.
“Yeah, Henry. Don’t make it worse. I eat men like you for lunch. You don’t want to see me mad.”
“It’s Hugh. Not Henry, not Howie. Now get the hell out of here, Peter, before you make things harder on yourself,” Libby said.
Peter grabbed his wallet and keys off the counter and glared at me in passing on his way to the door. “You haven’t won. She’ll come back to me.”
He walked out the door and slammed it behind him. The sharp sound made Libby jump.
“He’s an interesting character,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“He wasn’t like that when we dated.”
“He seems a bit stalkerish. That big guy doesn’t know how to take no for an answer, and now you have to work with him too. That’s going to be awkward.”
She hobbled to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. “You didn’t have to tell him we were dating. I didn’t ask you to do that.”
“Consider it a perk for kissing me.”
“I knew that was a bad idea,” she said, taking two water bottles out of the fridge. She tossed me one before opening hers and taking a swig.
“It was the best idea you’ve had yet, but don’t worry, after watching that exchange, you’ve made it very clear that you don’t do serious, and besides, you’re not staying in Mountain View. That would defeat the purpose of talking you into selling me the property.”
“Exactly,” she said. “That’s why nothing will ever happen between us.”
“Oh, darling. You’re too late to say that. It’s already happened, but going forward, we’ll keep it with the caveat of no strings attached.”
“Hugh.” My name came out as a warning as I walked into the kitchen.
