Page 229 of Bound By Fire
The door opens anyway.
“I told you to go away.” Now I look up.
Carla walks in, closes the door behind her, and sits in the chair across from my desk. She crosses one leg over the other and folds her hands in her lap.
“What does the card say?” she asks.
“I didn’t read it.”
“Why is it in your trash, then?”
“Because I’m not going to read it.”
She tilts her head. “Okay, well…” She stands up and reaches for my trash can. “I’ll just throw this out for you. Looks pretty full.”
“Leave it.”
“What? I’m throwing out your trash. That’s part of my job. PA, executive assistant, trash removal specialist.”
“You’re being nosy and inserting yourself where you don’t belong. Leave my trash and go away.”
She doesn’t even pretend to be offended. She just sits back down and looks at me, very calm, like she’s got all day. She is still holding my trash can.
“Did I tell you that I went to see Ridge?” she asks.
My mouth falls open. “What? Why would you do that?”
“I’m glad I did because he was a disaster. A total mess. Even worse than you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, he looked terrible.” She wrinkles her nose. “Hadn’t showered in days. Had this thing growing on his face.” She gestures at her own chin and makes a disgusted face. “You should have seen the state of his place. I won’t get into it, or you’ll never take him back.”
“I don’t plan on taking him back.”
“Honestly, Robyn, it was sad. The poor guy. I felt sorry for him.”
“Wait just a minute. We need to backtrack. You went to his house?” I sit forward. “Carla, please tell me you did not go to his house.”
“Of course I did.”
I let out a long groan. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I’m sick of watching you pine away for a guy who actually has feelings for you. A good guy.”
“He’s not a good guy. He used me. He abused my trust. He?—”
“You know why that happened. You love him, and he loves you. You’re both just afraid.”
“I’mnotafraid.”
“Are you sure of that?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“I think that you’re afraid of getting hurt again, so you’d rather give up on love,” she tells me.
“Nope. That’s not true at all.”
“You need to grow a pair and take a chance and smell the flowers.” She gestures around the room. “Or you might regret it. I have done all that I can do here.”
She gets up and puts down my trash can. Then she walks out without another word.
I stare at the trash can for a long moment.
Then I lean down, reach in, and take out the card.
I swear, sometimes I hate Carla more than I love her.
