10. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Mandy

T he deadline for the mayor's proposal came and went without me acknowledging it. I've been too busy having no-strings sex with Michael. Who knew he'd become a beast in the sheets with a simple rule like 'no strings attached'?

He's taking me ice skating this afternoon. He's been very attentive and caring lately and we never touch on the triggering topic of the future. I drop by the library to have lunch with Ana Maria. I see another Hoffer brother doing repairs on the roof of the building.

I walk up to the front desk and smile at my friend. She's been very supportive of me, even though I haven't told her the depths of my secrets. I just know if everything comes out, I'll be looked upon as scum. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in this community, and I don't want them to change how they see me.

"Ready for lunch?"

"Yup. Come on back."

She lets me into the area where she works and I start talking out the pot roast I cooked. Mrs. Carter was in heaven when I went over to learn how to prepare it following her guidelines. I think it turned out pretty great and there will be leftovers for Michael tonight.

We dig in, and all you can hear is Ana Maria’s delight with the meal.

"Wait, you cooked this, Mandy?"

"With Mrs. Carter's help."

"Maybe you can do something in cooking. Catering, perhaps."

I nod and keep eating. Ana Maria has this whole campaign of finding me a new career—one that I can do while living in Woodland Falls. She's had several harebrained ideas, like a pet groomer or personal stylist, but I just nod and say nothing.

Who in such a small town as Woodland Falls would have use for a personal stylist? Even if I could do that, I'm not good with fashion trends. This is why I don't pay any attention to her ideas.

"How is the work going on the house?"

"Coming along nicely, actually. Michael's crew is like magic."

"Always helps to have an in with the guy in charge."

"Stop it."

"So, are you guys dating or what," she asks over a mouthful.

"Or what."

"Really?"

I look at her incredulous face and wonder how much I can tell her.

"I have a goal. It's a super-secret goal that I haven't told anyone, and until I can fulfill that goal everything else in my life is at a standstill. That's all you'll get out of me."

Ana's eyes are bugged out from the information I just gave her. I look down and keep eating my food. I feel a hand on my arm, and I look up at her concerned face.

"Whatever you need, know that I'm here for you, okay?"

I give her a smile and bring out the surprise tiramisu I got at Flora's Baked Delights. She bounces joyfully in her seat and I divide the treat for us. We're chatting and laughing when the door to the library opens, and my favorite Hoffer brother comes in.

"You ladies seem to be having a good time. Is that tiramisu from Flora's? Wait!"

I swallow down the last bite as he watches in horror. Flora doesn't make this dessert very often. She's got to be in a really good mood to make it, and it sells out almost immediately.

"Sorry," I say, not one bit ashamed. "You're early."

He squints in my direction, a disgruntled look on his face.

"I wanted to surprise you,” he says. “You were never going to save any of that for me, were you?"

"It was always meant to be for me and my bestie."

"I'm going to go to Flora's."

"Don't bother. This was the last piece."

"I must have gotten onto her bad side somehow. She always texts me when she makes tiramisu and saves me a piece."

We all fall silent, and I see hunger in his eyes.

"Okay, lovebirds. Stop making googly eyes at each other and get out of my sight." Ana says. She takes the containers from me and shoos me away. "I'll wash these later. Thanks so much for lunch. It was delicious."

I get up and go around to the other side of the counter, where Michael is still silently staring at me. I grab his hand and tug gently. I'm not sure where his mind is at, but it takes him a minute to start moving with me.

"I don't think I should ice skate so soon after lunch."

"All I want is to spend some time with you, baby."

The use of the endearment makes goosebumps burst all over my skin. I like it way too much when he says those words to me.

He backs into the parking spot and opens the trunk so that we can sit together. There's a blanket, which he throws over our legs, and he reaches for my hand.

We entwine our fingers and watch as people skate around the pond. I'm actually surprised at how many people are here at three in the afternoon. It’s chilly, and I think my teeth are chattering. Another blanket is thrown over my back, and I sigh in relief.

"I have hot cocoa."

"My stomach is bloated with how much food I ate. There's pot roast for dinner."

"You made some?"

"Yeah."

"You're something else, you know that?" He hesitates. "I know you don't want to think about the future, but…"

I immediately interrupt him so he doesn't finish that sentence.

"Nothing, Michael. Let it be."

"It's just—these past few weeks with you have been so amazing. Can we agree on that, at least?"

My features soften, and I turn to him.

"It's been wonderful, Michael."

"We've never been this in touch—this connected to one another. It's a little disturbing, but in a good way."

I squeeze my hand against his and try to keep the tears from flowing. The sex has been life-changing, and we've become so much closer. None of it matters, though. I'm enslaved to someone in New York. If only I could tell him.

"I think I'm ready to skate."

Michael's face tells me he's not done talking, but I can't deal with this conversation about connection, caring, and maybe even love. I've known him for a long time. He's not one to take relationships lightly.

We close up the car and go rent some skates. Michael helps me put them on, and we glide onto the pond, arm in arm like two star-struck lovers. We joke around and try to do twirls and skate backward like we did when we were teenagers. After a couple of hours, though, I'm sweaty and getting chilled.

"Time to go, baby girl."

He drags me to the benches, where he takes my skates off and puts my shoes back on. It's such a caring gesture. I want to cry.

"We need to get the pot roast from grandma's house if you want to have that for dinner."

"Okay, we can do that. Let’s get you inside the car where it's warm."

On the way over, he puts on some Christmas music. It's been over for eight weeks, but he knows I love these songs and don't mind listening to them outside of the season. When we approach my grandmother's house, we see a strange car in the driveway.

"Do you know whose car that is?" I ask Michael.

"I do, but I don't know what the hell he's doing here."

A chill goes through me, and all the blood rushes out of my face. Michael doesn't notice because he's still mumbling about the mayor. Oh no. The mayor’s going to out me, isn't he?

"Maybe we should go, Michael."

"No, I want to know why he's here."

He opens his door violently and gets out of the car. I hurry to follow and see that the mayor is getting out of his car, too. I almost bump into Michael's back in my rush to get in between the confrontation that is sure to take place.

"What do you want, Gene?" Michael asks.

"Time has run out, Miss Schmidt." The mayor says, looking directly at me.

"What are you talking about?" Michael asks.

"Miss Schmidt and I have an agreement, and she's no longer going to be dating you. She's all mine now."

Michael laughs at his words and pulls me to his side.

"You'll never put one of your filthy fingers on her, Gene. Not as long as I live."

"Michael…" I try to interject.

"Are you going to tell him, sweetheart? Or do I get the pleasure of doing it myself?"

"Mayor…Gene, there's nothing to tell, really. You promised no one would have to know."

"That was when I thought you'd keep my deadline. You're several days past it, and I'm here to collect."

"Like hell you are," Michael shouts and swings at the mayor's head. He misses, though, and I've just realized this horrible man is going to ruin what little I have of my life.