Read My Mind

by Natasha Preston

  “Okay, I think we all get the point.”

  I turn to Phoebe. “He’s a good editor, though.”

  “Thanks for adding that. Coffee, Phoebs?”

  She glances over her shoulder at him. “Please. I’ve missed your lattes.” Turning back to me, she adds, “He turned into a coffee snob.”

  “After Starbucks, he told me. To be fair, it is better here, but you try and get one while you’re out with him. It’s like telling him to eat mushy broccoli.”

  “I could leave,” he mutters to himself while pressing all sorts of buttons on the machine.

  “What do you do, Phoebe? He hasn’t told me.”

  “I work in retail. I’m a manger for an independent clothing boutique… or I will be again once my maternity is over.”

  “That’s cool. I’ll have to come and shop with you.”

  “You would look amazing in everything we sell. Reid never said you’d gone total babe.”

  I drop my jaw and glare at him. “Why are you not telling people that?”

  He folds his arms. “Sorry, hadn’t noticed.”

  “You arsehole! I have nothing to throw at you!”

  Laughing, he shakes his head and goes back to making Phoebe’s drink.

  “Oh, he’s totally noticed. You know how many people he allows in his office? None… besides you.”

  “Yeah, but to be fair, I didn’t give him a lot of choice.”

  “‘It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission’. A quote I’m certain Grace Hopper stole from Mila,” Reid says.

  “Tell me about him as a kid.”

  Phoebe’s eyes light up.

  “No way!”

  “Has he told you about the time him and his mates tried to form a band?”

  “Oh my God, no!” I squeal.

  Reid cringes and hands Phoebe a mug. “I hate you,” he tells her.

  She waves him off. “They were about twelve, so this was before we moved here.”

  “They were so bad your old town kicked you out?”

  “Fuck’s sake,” Reid mutters.

  Phoebe laughs, clearly loving this. “That wouldn’t surprise me. Nothing to do with Dad’s job at all. Anyway, they did one gig, choked, and gave up.”

  “What was the gig?”

  “Our cousins sixth birthday party.”

  I throw my head back and laugh.

  “In fairness, Reid has a decent voice.”

  I turn to him and press my hands together. “Please sing for me. Please.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Let’s take this into the living room. I have so much to tell you, Mila.”

  Reid catches my wrist when I go to follow Phoebe. My skin burns deliciously under his touch. “Yes?” I ask.

  “You’re loving this.”

  “More than you could ever know.”

  His eyes turn darker. “Mila…”

  “Don’t worry, you can come for dinner at mine tomorrow and get your revenge.”

  I walk away, leaving him with wide eyes and parted lips.

  It takes but a second to realise what I’ve done. Dumb arse here just invited Reid to dinner with my parents. With. My. Mum.

  Phoebe sits on the sofa, taking the spot Reid favours. I want to tell her to move, but that’s insane. I sit beside her, leaving a space between us so it doesn’t get weird.

  “Do you travel, too?” I ask.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I’m just wondering what inspired Reid’s desire to see the whole world.”

  “Oh, that.” She smiles. “Well, he’s only travelled for the past three years. Callum and I usually have one trip abroad a year, although nowhere particularly exotic.”

  “Why the last few years?”

  “I’ll leave that one for him to answer.”

  “Okay.” My mind races. Something made Reid want to travel three years ago. Something made him want to read fourteen years ago. They’re things that Phoebe doesn’t feel comfortable telling me. “So, what’s motherhood like? Do they really pee on you daily?”

  She laughs. “Not daily. You’re going to love it… but love it in about ten years’ time.”

  “Oh, it’s so not happening before then. I can’t keep a plant alive.”

  “You’ll be fine. Babies cry and let you know when they need feeding.”

  Reid joins us and scowls at his sister.

  “Calm down, we’re not talking about you,” I tell him. “Phoebe’s telling me the difference between kids and plants.”

  “Good, because that’s not instantly clear.”

  “I’ve told Mila to wait to have children.”

  Phoebe says that as if she’s talking directly to Reid. As far as I’m aware, he has no intentions of impregnating me.

  “Good, she doesn’t even look when she crosses the road.”

  “Not every road, and you can hear cars, Reid.”

  “Can you hear electric cars, Mila?”

  My teeth snap together when Reid arches a brow.

  “Point proven.”

  “You’re acting like I run across the M25.”

  “Oh my God,” Phoebe coos.

  Reid and I look over to see her wide eyes and goofy smile. “Have you spent much time with Mila’s parents then, Reid? I heard you’re going for dinner.”

  Oh, she’s not subtle.

  “Tomorrow will be the first time.”

  That’s right, because I’ve invited him to dinner, and Phoebe is making this weird with her insinuation that Reid and I will have children.

  “Cool. Do you know how many girls Reid had over for dinner in high school?”

  “Tell me.”

  “Stop talking, Phoebe.”

  “Three. Each one of them dumber than the last.”

  “They were not dumb.”

  “Academically, they may not have been, but they couldn’t see that Reid wasn’t into them.”

  Reid rolls his eyes. “They weren’t that into me, either.”

  I pout. “Poor Reid.”

  He gives me a sideways glance. “I was fine.”

  “He was never a womaniser. Reid is loyal.”

  “I know,” I reply. He’s trustworthy. I don’t know what it is about him, maybe the fact that he reads and has only ever helped me, but I trust him with my life.

  Twenty-Eight

  Reid

  I’m trying to focus on what Mel and Ruby are talking about in the meeting. We have four publications this month, and although none of them are my authors, Mel still likes to keep everyone in the loop.

  All I can think about is dinner at Mila’s parents’ house tonight. Archie will also be there. I guess I’m going to find out how protective he is of his younger sister. Phoebe was awful yesterday, looking at Mila and me like we’re getting married. I’m just grateful she didn’t scare Mila away.

  “Okay, let’s wrap it up and get some work done,” Mel says, clapping her hands together.

  Mila stands with Sally, who she’s shadowing this week. They’re working on social media and ad campaigns, I think. I’m glad Mila is learning about promoting and advertising in case she needs it for her own books in the future.

  She shoots a quick smile my way, her eyes lingering, and then she’s gone. I think she might be Mel’s best employee. The office is going to be a lot darker and quieter when she’s finished here.

  Mel folds her arms, her grin making me want to run from the room.

  “Yes?” I ask.

  “How are you?”

  “What do you really want to know?”

  She leans forward. “Have you asked her out yet?”

  “Mel…”

  “Oh, come on. I live for this stuff. Why haven’t you made your move? The chemistry between you two is palpable.”

  “I’m working on it,” I tell her, getting to my feet.

  “Work on it faster, please.”

  “See you later.”

  I hear her cackle as I leave the meeting room.

  I bur
y myself in work. I’m not sure if it’s better when I’m here or when I’m at home. If Mila walks past my office, it takes a while before I can get my head back in a manuscript.

  It’s a distraction I hope for, although I know it’s going to set me back.

  I’m such a fool.

  All day, I clock watch. I reply to the endless stream of emails and take a call from an author, as well as one from an agent, always keeping one eye on the time.

  Really, I shouldn’t be quite so nervous for tonight. Mila isn’t introducing me as her boyfriend, and her parents already know who I am.

  She couldn’t move away because she wasn’t ready to leave her parents. I think them not liking me would mean it’s all over.

  “Hey, nerd. You ready to go?” Mila says, leaning against my doorframe.

  I look at the time, and then to her. It’s two minutes after five p.m., thank God.

  “Nerd isn’t very nice,” I tell her, shutting down my computer.

  She watches me, waiting. We came to work together again today. “I don’t know…”

  I slide my phone into my pocket and pick up my keys.

  “All right, let’s go to dinner.”

  We walk out to the car park. “My mum might be a bit…”

  “A bit what?”

  “She says what she thinks. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  “You’ve said, and I wouldn’t be surprised after spending time with you.”

  We both climb into the car, and I’m not at all shocked to see her throwing a glare my way. I start the engine and drive towards her house.

  “I never said it was a bad thing,” I tell her. “Did you enjoy today?”

  “Sally is, like, a freaking advertising oracle. We did a bunch of stuff for social media and she scored some awesome placements with Waterstones. Well, I don’t know if she did anything to get that but there will be a stand for that awful romance when it’s released.”

  “Did you tell her that you think it’s awful.”

  She winces. “I didn’t mean to. It just came out. She doesn’t like romance so said it’s probably true.”

  “The author is her cousin.”

  Her amber eyes bulge for half a second before she realises that I’m joking. “You suck, Reid!”

  “I couldn’t resist. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re not sorry,” she mutters, leaning her head against the rest. “I love working but, man, it’s exhausting.”

  I roll my eyes. “You wait until your full days are non-stop writing and you have deadlines from people like me to meet.”

  “You’re so sure I’m going to get published.”

  “I am.”

  “I’d actually die. Imagine walking into a book shop and seeing your own book on the shelf.”

  “I can quite believe that that would be one of the few occasions to leave you wordless. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Well, if I happens, you’ll need to hold my hand so I don’t faint.”

  “I’ll make sure you don’t fall on that pretty face.”

  “Reid, you’ll make me blush.”

  I pull into my drive. “Will I now? You ready to head over?”

  She nods. “My mum is so looking forward to this.”

  “Come on.”

  “You can cancel, you know,” she says as we get out of the car.

  “Do you want me to cancel?”

  “No.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  We head over and Mila opens the door.

  Dawn shouts, “Kitchen, Mila!”

  “Last chance to leave this madness,” she whispers to me.

  “I happen to like this kind of madness.”

  She turns back with a smile on her face that makes me want to take her straight back out.

  “Mum, Dad, Archie, this is Reid. Who you already know…”

  Is Mila nervous?

  “Hey,” I say.

  Dawn steps forwards. “Hi, Reid. We’re so happy you could make it. Mila said you like Chinese, so we thought we’d order in so we have more time to chat.”

  “She’s just saying that because we’re all shit cooks,” Archie says.

  “You can go back to the city,” Dawn mutters.

  “Chinese is great with me,” I say.

  “Rum!” Mila calls out. She spins on her heel until she’s facing me. “I’ll get us the rum.”

  “Are you all right?” I ask.

  She smiles in the most unconvincing way. “Rum.”

  Archie side eyes her and walks around the island with their dad. Tim shakes my hand.

  “Thank you for what you’ve done for my little girl.”

  “I haven’t done anything.”

  He shakes his head, while Dawn grips her heart in the background.

  “Oh, you have. She’s always been this ray of sunshine who lights up the room. Recently—the last year really—she’s been quieter. That Liam was no good for her. She’s happy again, and I can actually picture her moving out now.”

  I laugh and nod my head. The compliment means more than words can describe.

  Archie folds his arms, and I can tell he won’t be won over as easily.

  “Arch, you’re not a bouncer,” Mila says, pushing into the circle and handing me a rum and coke.

  He snaps his eyes to her. “You’re three minutes out of a relationship with Mr Predictable and bringing home a new man.”

  “It was over a month, but it feels like years. You’ve never brought anyone home because no one actually likes you.”

  “How old are you, Mila?” he scoffs.

  “How many airheads have you slept with this week? Our answers will probably be the same.”

  “All right, you two,” Dawn says, taking a large sip of her wine. “Keep drinking, Reid. You’ll need it tonight.”

  The doorbell rings, and Tim walks off, shaking his head.

  “I’ll come, too, Dad. There will probably be more food than one person can carry.” Archie follows Tim.

  “You have to have leftover Chinese for lunch,” Dawn defends.

  Mila takes a deep breath. “You should have cancelled when you had the chance.”

  “No way,” I reply. “Dawn, can I do anything?”

  “Thank you for asking, Reid, but you two go and sit down. Everything is set.”

  Mila grabs my hand and pulls me rather urgently into the dining room off the kitchen. “Okay, she wasn’t joking when she told you to keep drinking. It does help.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “So adorable that you think that. Come sit next to me.”

  She only releases my hand when her family join us.

  I’ve always like Mila’s parents… what I’ve seen of them, anyway. In the thirty minutes that I’ve been here, I’ve learnt that Tim is into football and Dawn’s into white wine.

  Archie is living the life of a playboy in the city. Neither of their parents seem shocked by this.

  We’re all sitting around their dining table with Chinese takeaway piled high. Her brother has spent a lot of time glaring at me.

  Yet.

  “Do you play, Reid?” Tim asks.

  “Sorry?”

  Mila leans closer. “He’s talking about football. Always assume that and you’ll be fine.”

  “Oh. When I was in school. Not much since. I was actually the best on the school’s team. I’m not sure what that said about us on the whole.”

  Tim laughs. “You should come down to the sports centre on a Tuesday night. A group of us play.”

  “They’re not very good, but I’ve watched Tim play since we were teenagers. It’s how we met,” Dawn says.

  “You make it sound like you went along to watch me.”

  She shrugs. “I did eventually.”

  He raises his eyebrow. “Eventually? I must have been the last guy you dated on the team.”

  “I can’t help it if I was popular.”

  Mila wiggles her eyebrows. “Super popular, Mum. You should have been given a trophy fo
r eleven men.”

  “Orgasms are much better than trophies.”

  What?

  Mila lifts her glass and clinks it against her Mum’s. “Here, here.”

  What is going on?

  “Really, Mum? A whole football team? Fuck’s sake,” Archie groans.

  “Not a whole one. There’s more than eleven men on a team. There are subs,” Tim says, defending his wife.

  “Not the subs?” I ask, completely unable to keep myself from smiling.

  Dawn waves her hand. “Oh, no one wants to fuck a sub, dear.”

  I whack my fist into my chest, almost choking, while the rest of them laugh.

  “Mum had a couple of years where she went a bit… off the rails,” Mila says.

  “You call it off the rails, I call it being young and fun. It was a different time back then.”

  “All right,” Mila mutters.

  “Let’s not scare the poor man away the first time he has dinner with us,” Tim says.

  Archie narrows his eyes. “We need to know if he scares easy. Get the karaoke machine out, Mum.”

  Mila sits taller. “Seriously?”

  “Liam always made an excuse to leave before karaoke,” Archie says, his challenging eyes gliding to mine.

  “Reid.” Mila slaps my arm. “We’re doing a duet.” She turns to her family. “He was in a band.”

  I groan, cursing Phoebe.

  “A band?” Dawn asks.

  “Mila made that sound a lot cooler than it was. I was young, and we were awful.”

  “Tell us how Mila is doing at work,” Tim says, saving me from having to expand on my humiliating time as a lead singer in the world’s saddest band.

  “She’s doing great. Mel loves her. I’m pretty sure no one misses me Tuesday to Thursday anymore.” My heart fills with pride. She really has no idea how good she is.

  Mila smiles and dips her head so that her inky black hair falls over her face. It’s a sign of shyness I don’t see very often.

  “Did she make a dick of herself on the first day?” Archie asks.

  Mila glares at her big brother. They tease each other a lot but I can tell that they’re close.

  “There was a lot of talking. More so than usual,” I reply.

  “God, it was so quiet when I moved out. I honestly don’t think she needs to breathe. No other human can talk so solidly without drawing a breath,” Archie says.