A Million Miles Apart (Wish 4)

20 - Dirt

Sloane knocked on Ted's door. He opened it and smiled. "I knew she'd be over to see you."

"Hi Sloane." Mia's voice came from the kitchen.

"They're baking."

Sloane nodded. It smelled sweet with a touch of cinnamon. She heard a little voice signifying the other baker was her nephew.

"I came to talk to you."

"Talk." Her brother's confidence was often abrupt, but she was immune.

"I had lunch with Dad. Dom and I want to start our own company. We're tired of the travel and we think we can limit ourselves geographically."

"What did Dad say?"

"He's on board. Mom worries about me, so he wants to keep me home."

Ted nodded. Their father's devotion to his wife ran deep. "What do you want from me?"

"Do you need security services?"

He sighed. "I could probably arrange something. I thought Dom lived somewhere else."

She nodded. "He said he'd consider moving."

"Cookies!" Little Ed called out. When he saw her, he looked surprised. She usually saw him at home. "Mia, Aunt Sloane is here."

"I see. She lives in my apartment because I live here."

"With Daddy."

Mia nodded, and Sloane wondered what his mother thought of the arrangement.

"Sloane, I was looking for you when I got home from work." Mia smiled.

Ted was busy eating cookies. "You'll get fat." Sloane poked at his belly.

"I work them off."

"I don't want to know!"

"What are you fifteen? I work on site most mornings. We've started a new mill renovation, after the success of the first mill. Plus we have similar projects in multiple other cities."

"I just went to see your luxury condos." Ted raised his eyebrow. "Ben Lynch invited me over to offer me my condo back."

"Back! I thought he wanted to thank you?"

She looked at Mia. "Your doctor told him my last name."

"Oh no! I didn't tell Noah it was a secret."

"He felt guilty for taking my place when he treated me like..."

"Dirt," Ted said.

Mia said, "I was thinking of a stronger word."

Sloane laughed. "It was awkward and weird. I impressed him by not going public with the information Noah gave us."

"I asked you not to, for Noah's sake."

Sloane nodded. "I told him that and how I like my privacy."

Mia smiled. "So did he ask you out?"

"No! We have a truce, which means next season he can still be my favorite player."

Sloane's weekend flew by and on Monday morning she flew to Atlanta. She was excited to update Dom on her conversations with her father. Her mother planned a dinner for Friday night so she needed Dom to fly to Boston with her.

Her mind kept going back to Ben and their odd meeting. His guilt proved he was a better man than his behavior indicated. The thought did little to convince her not to like him. She still wanted to know who had tried to take his money. The man controlled her thoughts, and his presence in the dugout was a popular subject during the game broadcasts. Sloane liked to get a glimpse of him. Her hand had tingles when she thought of their handshake.