Overtime Play by Kasey Moone Page B

sadly. “I wish.”
    There was no way anyone could misinterpret the message. No way anyone could mistake the full explicit meaning. Her gaze skimmed over Kelly’s worried expression just as the telephone rang.
    Uncle Leo’s cheerful voice announced itself on the other line. “Just calling to thank you, child.”
    “For what, Unc?”
    “The money for the medication. I received it in the mail this morning. You are so thoughtful.”
    Mira froze. Goodness, had she been so out of it the last week that she’d sent Uncle’s money early unknowingly? She scanned her kitchen calendar. Nope. His payment wasn’t scheduled to go out until the end of the month. Confused, she stared at Kelly from across the way.
    “Uncle, how much is there?”
    He laughed merrily. “Didn’t get a chance to look through it all, it’s so big. Mostly hundred dollar bills. Child, you now I like my money in twenties.”
    Mira took a steadying breath. “What’s the sender’s address on the envelope, Unc?”
    “Not there, but I figured it was from you, child.”
    Elated, Mira did her best to contain herself, already thinking about how much she could save if Uncle Leo’s was set for the rest of the year. “Let me call you back, Unc.”
    At Kelly’s curious gaze, she hung up the phone and spit out the news. “Someone sent some money to Uncle Leo. Can you believe that? I won’t have to worry about digging into my savings for awhile.”
    Her friend smiled at the good tidings. “That’s great, girl. So, who’s the donor?”
    “Who do you think?”
    Something inside of her, hope perhaps, awakened. It had to have been him. Jeremy. Who else knew about Uncle Leo’s situation? Who else had the funds to send such a large amount? Dammit, she told him that she didn’t need his damn money and, as usual, he’d done what he damned well please. She wanted to hate him for it, but only felt a tremendous sense of gratitude at the kind gesture. Even so, she knew he didn’t want her back. He’d only wanted to ease his conscience somehow. There was no sense contacting the man like a fool. As if sensing her turmoil, her friend spoke up. “Do you love him?”
    Mira stilled. Should she tell her best friend the truth? That she was head-over-heels in love with the egotistical man. The admission was too much to bear.
    They spoke for a while longer, pretending to lose themselves in conversation about their college days. After Kelly left, Mira found herself sulking in misery. She growled in agitation. She needed to stop wallowing in grief. She needed to get off her ass and find a job.
    She fell asleep, dreaming of Jeremy.
    ****
    Jeremy was on the verge of punching his best friend Chad square in the face. Ever since he’d heard his cell phone’s old messages, and learned that Mira had thought he’d paid her off like some John, he’d been putting his friend through the ringer.
    Though the other man had apologized profusely, citing that he didn’t know Mira’s duties extended to listening to his personal messages, he was still agitated about the entire situation. He didn’t know who he was more upset at—Chad for leaving such an irresponsible message or Mira for believing it.
    “I’ll fix this,” offered Chad. “This can be fixed.”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    Chad blinked at him. “You’ve been walking around this station breathing fire because of that woman and you don’t want me to fix this?”
    “What do you mean, breathing fire?”
    “I mean, you’ve been a dick. Yelling at Rick for putting too much cream in your coffee. Questioning Becky about the wall color. Telling poor Andrew to throw his mixed CDs off the roof.”
    Jeremy didn’t say a word. He knew his friend was right. He’d been a total prick the past week. But how could he concentrate on work when Mira occupied his thoughts every moment of the hour?
    In Daytona, he’d started to envision a life with her. A life where he’d wake up every morning to find her in his arms. A life