Page 32 of Daycare Santa

Gina hadn’t bothered to show.

A gnawing suspicion that something was wrong would not leave him, but Gina had his number. The least she could have done was to call. He’d read her wrong, but maybe he should give her the benefit of the doubt, instead of judging her.

He picked up the phone off his leg and dialed her number, but it rang out. His next call went straight to voice mail. Gina had rejected it.

But why? Did something happen to Luca? Was she at the hospital?

Surely, she could take a moment to let him know what was happening.

He wavered between ringing her again, and saying to hell with the situation. Laying his head against the seat, Zack tried to clarify his thoughts. Nothing made sense. Gina wasn’t the sort to play games. He didn’t know her well, but that much was clear.

As far as Zack knew, he hadn’t done or said anything to get this response. He was large, but not threatening. If she changed her mind, didn’t she know he’d respect that?

Still sifting his thoughts Zack switched on the engine, then made one last attempt to reach her. This time, she answered but didn’t speak.

“Gina?”

She breathed in deeply, then asked, “What do you want?”

He looked at the phone to be certain he had the correct number. “That’s a weird question, considering ...”

“Really? I don’t have time for games. What you did today was disgusting.”

His chest tightened, as though a steel band was around him, cutting off his air. This wasn’t good. “If you explain what you mean ...”

“This is a waste of time, but you know that. What do you hope to gain by prolonging this conversation?”

The muscles at the back of his neck loosened when he figured out the only thing that could have made Gina this mad.

“I’m sorry, but I can explain what you think you saw.”

“Oh, so nowyou thinkI was hallucinating?”

“Nothing like that. What I didn’t share—”

“You pretended not to know me when I saw you kissing that woman.”

“But that was—”

“I’d respect you more if you didn’t lie about it.”

He sighed, then said, “There’s an explanation for that. If you would let me tell you—”

“Really? You’re going to say that wasn’tyouI saw inyourcar at the stoplight, withyourlips attached to that woman?”

“Yes.”

Her breath huffed out, and she snapped, “Zack, get off my phone. Like I already told you, this is a waste of—”

“Regina.” His tone was forceful and silenced her. “I have a twin.”

The dead silence between them made Zack look at the phone. She was still there.

She released a bitter chuckle. “Of all the things I am, a fool is not one of them.”

“I’m serious. Let me prove it to you.”

Her response was quick. “I’d prefer you don’t. Maybe this is a sign of things to come.”