World's Worst Boyfriend: A Romantic Comedy Adventure (Fake It Book 3) by Carina Taylor (ebook reader online txt) 📗

She would already be at work at this time. My work, however, had taken on an all-new set of hours.

There was a new hire coming into town. That was who Sullivan was meeting at the restaurant the night before and who I was trying to catch a glimpse of from the “employees only” area. I would meet the new guy soon enough because Sullivan wanted me there to help run a background check on him. With the auction coming up, and Sullivan moving another truckload of art to the warehouse, he was being extra careful about who he hired.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time covering my tracks while trying to follow theirs. Sullivan was as suspicious as they came, and I considered it a miracle he hadn’t figured out my farce yet.

My skills were being tested to their limits.

The night I’d fallen asleep and left Saidy at the Italian restaurant, I’d spent the previous evening trying to redirect a shipment from their warehouse. That one had required a little more than my typical IT cover. It had taken an impersonation, a mad sprint through the woods, and an angry dog. By the time I’d gotten back to Saidy’s, I was exhausted. I figured she wouldn’t mind if I waited for her on the couch. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and she had already gone to the restaurant.

Or there was the time before that, when I swapped out boxes of clean, stolen money with marked bills. That had involved an underground sewer. That had not gone well. I’d had to cancel our date, because no matter how many times I showered, I couldn’t seem to get rid of the smell.

Yes, there was no doubt in my mind that my job played a big part in my neglecting her. But I couldn’t help but wonder what she would think of me if she knew the truth.

Even right now, when she was angry at me, she was still sweet and thoughtful. Wrapping me up in a blanket and making me breakfast. I knew I would never find anyone else half as amazing as her. I didn’t want to find anyone else. I wanted her. I only hoped I’d be given a chance to win her back. To learn from my mistakes and improve.

Looking at it from her side, I could see where she was upset, and even felt as though I didn’t care about her. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about my work schedule for right now. I had a black-market dealer to catch and I couldn’t just drop the case.

I pulled out my phone and sent her a text.

Fletcher: Thanks for the bagel.

It registered as read, but she didn’t reply.

Fletcher: Please don’t ride with strangers.

Saidy: Please don’t break into my house anymore. P.S. Get your feet off my coffee table.

I glanced around, convinced she was still in the house watching me. She wasn’t. But I pulled my feet off the coffee table anyway. I wasn’t about to risk the wrath of Saidy again. I needed a helmet and football pads for that.

My phone rang. Shockingly, it wasn’t my work phone. I glanced at the screen, confident that it was not Saidy.

It was her grandma. The woman had been incessant in calling and texting me to find out if Saidy and my relationship status had changed.

“Hello, Glamma,” I answered.

“Did she take you back?”

She could be an abrupt woman when she wanted to be.

“You know, I’m beginning to think you and her are more alike than you’d like to admit.”

“Never.” She bit out. “But I do care about her. And I like you. I don’t want to see her being a miserable failure. Look at her mother.”

“What about her mother?”

“She threw away her life to raise her family.”

“Terrible woman,” I muttered dryly under my breath.

“I heard that, young man. If you want to be able to come to bridge night again, you’ll watch your tone.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I stood up and stretched, then carried the bagel plate into the kitchen.

“Well, I’m waiting for a full report.”

“I’ve tried to talk to her,” I said as I rinsed off the plate and stuck it in the dishwasher.

“And how did that go for you?”

“Not so great.”

“And did you try making her mad like I suggested?”

I didn’t answer as I slipped on my shoes. She’d been texting unhelpful suggestions ever since we broke up.

“A-ha! You did! And it worked, didn’t it?” Her gloating made me flinch.

“Fine, yes. She got mad and it wasn’t the worst thing.” I thought back to the fire in her eyes when I’d told her not to get in the car with strangers. Ironically, I hadn’t even had to pretend to be mad. I was mad. She simply reacted in kind. And then she let me hold her when I pretended to be asleep. She chose to stay snuggled against my chest.

It was all I could do to not crow with victory. She didn’t despise me like I’d originally thought.

But now I had my work cut out for me.

“Now, if you just keep yourself in the front of her mind, she won’t let another man get to her,” she advised.

“You sound strangely devious.”

“Despite what I tell her, she’s a beautiful girl.”

“It doesn’t hurt that she’s kind, incredible, hard-working, and smart either…”

“Tsk,” her hiss hit my ear, making me pull the phone away. “I’ve got to run. I’m going to be late for brunch. I’m expecting a report from you soon. You are the only one of my grandchildren’s partner’s I can stand. You’re not allowed to desert me.”

With that, she hung up the phone.

Shaking my head, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and locked the door before I stepped outside. I pulled the door until it latched, and then I checked the doorknob. A good jerk had the door popping open again.

I double-checked to make sure the lock had actually turned. It had but seemed to be loose. I didn’t have time to find out if it was a frame or