Page 180 of Chasing Headlines
“You mean where they keep me while everyone just waits around for me to kick over?” Dotty smoothed hair from her face.
I met her gaze. “You’re being overly dramatic.”
“Sure, sure. But I wasn’t planning to have him hang out with me.” She pivoted in her chair again and looked at the door. “I swear that girl. It doesn’t take this long to drag your shit in here. I told her to give it to that idiot Schorr.”
“I’m right here.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s probably Remi.” Sender peered out into the hallway.
Dotty glanced over her shoulder. A loud huff. “Dammit, Henry. Where’s that blonde pain in my ass Coop just wants to get frisky with?”
Chapter Fifty-One
Olivia POV
Earlier that night (just after the game)
Ichecked my phone as I made my way to the parking lot. The sheriff’s patrol car lit up like a Christmas tree as I approached.
. . . and I knew I was in trouble.
“What, did you expect me to walk to the hospital?” Dotty rose from the passenger’s seat and gave me that look that could melt sand.
“No, I figured the Deputy could give you a lift.”
“He has more important business. I need him to do something else. Which means you’re driving me.” She pointed at me.
Fatigue had settled into the pit of my stomach and thought to grow arms and legs. “I don’t want to go.”
“Pish posh.”
“I don’t. He’s a grown man, capable of taking care of himself. And his coaches and teammates will be there?—”
“And yet you’re the one he chooses to be around.” Dotty stared at me. My insides squirmed.
“You’re just making things up to get me to drive you.”
She scoffed. “Doesn’t sound like me.”
“It sounds exactly like you.” Deputy Reegan tipped his head to one side as he rolled his eyes.
“Hush. No one asked you. Be on your way already.” She gestured like she was prodding the car to get moving.
“I’ll call you a rideshare.” I opened the rideshare app.
“You're being a coward.”
“I’m not. I’m just.” So tired and worn and raw. “I’m not interested in him, that way.”
“Hm, let me translate into your language: Queen of Denial, much?”
I groaned. “Never do that again. It’s not personal. It’s just that . . . professionally, Coop makes headlines, that’s all.”
“You think I'll believe you've just been chasing some headlines. Hmph. What a bunch of hogwash.”
Whether I was or wasn’t, the latest development in the Milline family business had left me reeling. Numb. My brother had texted and at first I thought I’d misread something. Or took it out of context.