Page 61 of Stanton Unconditional

I stop and look at him as I get to the door, and my stomach drops.

My eyes flick around to the two cars full of men watching us. I get into the car and slam the door hard.

“How do you know?” I ask.

“Ben called me this morning and asked me to come around for a meeting this afternoon.”

I chuck my bag onto the floor of the car. “And?” I snap as I flick my hair around my shoulders, annoyed.

“And I think, that if you are going to call him, you have twenty-four hours left to do it.”

I roll my eyes as I look out the window.

“Well, I wish he would go today, that’s what I think,” I snap angrily.

“No, you don’t. You think you have everyone fooled but I know what’s really going on here. You are pushing him away to protect yourself.”

I frown in disgust. “You know you are very opinionated for someone who is supposed to be invisible.”

He smiles broadly and I find myself mirroring his stupid grin. “What’s funny?” I snap.

He shakes his head. “Nothing. I didn’t realize you thought you were hanging out with the invisible man.”

“Yeah, well I am. A very annoying, big-mouthed invisible man…who, actually, isn’t that invisible.” I sigh as we pull into the traffic.

We buy our lunch and eat in silence. My mind is racing a million miles per minute. Am I doing the right thing? What if I do really lose him? Oh God, please let me not lose him.

“What does Ben want to see you about?” I ask with a mouth full of food.

He continues chewing and shrugs. “I think I’m getting a finishing date.”

My eyes widen as I chew. “Finishing date.” I repeat as I wipe my mouth with my napkin.

“Pretty much.”

I frown. “What will you do?”

He shrugs. “Go back to America,” he says dryly.

“But I thought your romance was going well. She’s lovely.

Are you just going to leave her?”

“It is going well. Too well, but I’m not allowed to stay here if I’m not employed. You know how strict Australian immigration laws are.”

“Oh,” I whisper. “Do you want to stay?”

He nods. “Yes, I would love to see how this goes. I haven’t liked anyone like this for a very long time.” He frowns. “I even like her kids.”

I chew as I think. It’s not that bad having him around, is it?

Maybe I could stretch this out a bit for him.

“Tell Joshua that I feel unsafe after the robbery and that you need to stay and guard me for a while.”

He wipes his mouth with a napkin as he frowns in question.

I shrug. “Why not? It’s not like he can’t afford to pay you.”