Beautiful Illusions by Annie Jocoby Read Free Book Online Page A

stared at his glass pensively and said little else.
    I wasn’t quite sure what to say to any of this. I hope I get better at this over time. Hell, I hope I hear from him again. Then I remembered in a flash that he apparently had a date that night with somebody that he apparently had strong feelings for, judging by the tone of the conversation. I tried not to jump to conclusions, though. It might be an innocent thing – maybe Nick is his sister? Anyhow, I hardly had exclusive rights to him. I barely knew him. So, I decided not to ask about Nick. Besides, I couldn’t ask about Nick without giving away that my nosy ass heard everything he said to his ex-wife.
    The breakfast was soon finished. Not being quite sure how to play this - if I stay, am I intruding? If I go, does he think that I’m scared off by the therapist thing and am no longer interested? - I opted for eating and running. “Hey, thanks for everything. You’re an amazing cook. I hate to eat and run.”
    “Yes, yes, ” he said, sounding miserable. “Um, let me show you out.” I looked at him quizzically, suddenly remembering that I didn’t have my car there. I wondered if that occurred to him as well. In a split second, it did. “Oh, shit. Uh, hold on a second.” He went into the other room with his iPhone. He came back in a few minutes. “I’m terribly sorry. I just called my driver. He’ll be here in about five minutes.”
    Jeeves is dr iving me home? NOT a good sign. I sighed inwardly. I knew this was too good to be true.
    Daniel, his driver, was there in five minutes, driving a Cadillac Escalade, just as Ryan had promised. Patting my head a little before I got into the car, he said “Thanks, Iris. I had a very nice time.”
    That’s it? Not even a fake promise to call? Not even a half-hearted “I’ll see you later?” I nodded my head. Bastard. I immediately banished that thought . No, not a bastard. A nice guy who is dealing with a nasty problem that I can’t even begin to fathom. Well, maybe he is a bastard, if this Nick person is his girlfriend. Estranged girlfriend? Sister? Woman he wants as a girlfriend? 
    Smiling, I waved.
    But he already had his back turned and was walking into the house.

Chapter Six
    Sitting in the back of the Escalade, I willed Daniel not to be a chatty driver. I coul dn’t deal with that right now. I bit my lip, willing myself not to cry. Daniel will no doubt report it if I cry, so keep calm. Then I thought ha, Daniel won’t report anything. Ryan won’t ask, because he won’t care. Daniel has probably seen it all anyhow.
    Thankfully, Daniel was the stoic sort, not even trying to make small talk .
    Once inside my apartment, I let loose a torrent of tears. I had no idea why I was crying. I barely knew the guy. Except that I actually had known him my entire life. That is, I had known the idea of him all my life – the seemingly perfect guy. Dare I say – Prince Charming? So, I was upset, because I assumed that I wouldn’t be seeing him anymore.
    I decided to take a walk to my mailbox, which was centrally located in the middle of the apartment complex. I hated getting my mail, but I needed to take a walk and get some fresh air. Stepping out onto my stoop, I looked at the sky, which was now threatening rain. I sighed, knowing that I didn’t have an umbrella – all my umbrellas end ed up getting left somewhere, so I usually just got drenched like a puppy. I hurriedly made my way to the clubhouse, where the mailbox was, hoping that I wouldn’t get caught in a torrential downpour. A loud crack of thunder, followed by a lightning that lit up the sky, told me that I didn’t have much time.
    I got to the mailbox, and opened it.
    “Oh, for the love of god. Not again!” I said, as I peered inside and saw only a little yellow note. The note informed me that my box had gotten too full, so everything would be waiting for me at the post office. This had happened way too many times – I had an awful habit of not