“Why?”
“To say I’m sorry,” he replied. “I’m sorry for cheating on you and for hitting that guy.”
“That guy is my boyfriend,” Hope said.
She noticed a dark look crossover his face at her comment.
“I was hoping I could take you out to lunch so we could talk.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I just wanted to make up for all the trouble I have caused you.”
“Thanks, but I accept your apology. That’s enough.”
“Do you miss us?” Bill asked bluntly.
Hope was taken aback by his question. Right after she broke up with him she did, but now she had Rick and didn’t think about Bill anymore.
“I did in the beginning,” Hope started. “But I don’t know.”
“I miss you,” he said as he advanced toward her.
“Bill please,” Hope warned.
Bill didn’t listen, but kept advancing towards her.
“I miss holding you.”
He backed her into a wall and she was trapped.
“I also miss this.” He kissed her.
The familiarity of his lips being on hers was making her body tingle in memory and she couldn’t help but respond to his kiss. Her brain suddenly kicked into what was going on and she quickly pulled away from him.
“Bill it’s over between us,” she said breathlessly.
Bill came up behind her. “I want you back.”
“Well, I don’t want you,” Hope declared strongly.
Bill grabbed her. His face was close to hers, so close that she could feel his breath on her.
“I think you’re lying to yourself,” Bill said before slamming his mouth down on hers again.
The passion igniting between them was strong, causing her not to pull away from him. She was saved from doing something stupid when a sudden knock at the door interrupted them.
“Come in,” Hope yelled out.
Mary Jane stood in the doorway hesitant to enter. Hope looked at her with envy. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair, a small nose, a killer body, and a nice smile. Maybe I could get Bill to go for her instead, Hope mused.
“Was I interrupting?” she asked.
“Not at all,” Hope said. “Bill was just leaving.”
Bill gave her a dark look. “I’ll be back.”
Hope slumped down in her chair.
“What was that about?” Mary Jane asked.
“You don’t want to know,” Hope replied.
“Oh yes I do,” Mary Jane said. “You looked like you were caught doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing.”
Hope groaned. “If I tell you what happened you have to promise not to tell Rick.”
Mary Jane made a motion to button her lips.
“Bill wants me back,” Hope started. “Then he kissed me to make his point. I told him forget it, but he wouldn’t give up.”
Mary Jane whistled. “You have one hot boyfriend then another hot ex-boyfriend who wants you back. How can you be so lucky?”
“I wouldn’t call this being lucky,” Hope huffed.
Mary Jane shook her head in understanding. “I know, but the Sun just moved into Cancer which means that old relationships are resurfacing. Also, in a few days the Mercury retrograde is in Cancer which will bring a closure on a relationship that has been lingering in your mind. But with this deeper bonds will form in your current relationships which will carry you forward on your path.”
Hope gave her a strange look. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ve been studying astrology and have been doing charts on the people I know and this is what I came up with when I did yours.”
“So what you’re saying is that Bill will keep bothering me for awhile then, until the planets shift?”
“Basically,” Mary Jane replied. “You will feel a pull towards Bill which will test your relationship with Rick. Also Mercury retrograde in Cancer brings into review other relationship issues in your family as well as new ones.”
This would explain all the weird stuff going on between Jonathan, now Bill and even her family, with her brother getting her dad’s ring. It seemed when it rained it poured.
“How long is this supposed to last?” Hope questioned.
“It’s usually a month-long event.”
Hope groaned. “Maybe I’ll go on vacation and hope this goes away?”
Mary Jane laughed. “It wouldn’t help because the next time there is a Mercury retrograde in Cancer this would happen all over again until you deal with it.”
“Great,” Hope mumbled.
Mary Jane patted her hand. “It will be a trying time, but you will get through this.”
Hope quickly changed the subject. “What brought you by?”
“I just wanted to say hi,” she replied.
They talked for a while longer then Mary Jane took off leaving Hope in a bedazzled state. If what she was saying was true, Hope was in for a rough month. Pushing aside her problems, she opted to concentrate on work instead.
It was a long afternoon, but Hope got through all of her work. She was just about to leave when she saw Jonathan leaving Cameron’s office. Quickly she rushed over to her boss.
“How did Jonathan take it when you turned him down for the job?” Hope asked.
“Well...” Cameron hesitated.
“Well what?”
“I didn’t exactly turn him away,” he replied.
“What did you do?”
“I gave him the job.”
Hope exploded. “You did what!”
“He had great credentials, better than any candidate I’ve interviewed so far.”
“They could have been fake,” Hope implored.
“No they weren’t,” he said. “I checked his references, and called his past employers. Everyone spoke very highly of him.”
Hope harrumphed. “He probably paid them off.”
“Now Hope,” Cameron started. “I know you didn’t want me to hire him, but all you said was he was a smug S.O.B. Personally, I thought he was nice.”
“Of course he seemed nice because he wanted the job,” she spurted.
“Look, he’s on a three month probationary period, so if things don’t work out I can get rid of him. Does that make you feel any better?”
“Not really,” Hope sighed. “Just keep that man away from me.”
Hope turned away from Cameron and stomped to her office. She was fuming at the fact that Jonathan got the job. Now what was she going to do?
The day dragged by and Hope was glad when it was over. On the drive home, she stopped by Willy’s. She needed to speak with Judy. When she entered Hazel greeted her.
“Hi Hope.”
“Hi,”