Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Murray's face was a mask of barely contained frustration and impatience.

He glanced at the clock. It was only 8 PM, yet his phone had been ringing off the hook at home-four or five times already. Three of those calls were from his mom, and the other one was from Millie. He figured she knew he wouldn't pick up after one try, which showed some restraint on her part.

Still, that hardly calmed his irritation, especially knowing an outsider was now living in his villa.

Cliff checked the time. "What, calling it a night already? It's still early."

Murray didn't respond. Cliff could tell, despite Murray's outward composure, he was on the verge of exploding, so he didn't push further-

"My driver's downstairs. I'll have him take you home."

"Thanks."

"All formal with me?" Cliff set down his beer. "Let me walk you out."

Murray waved him off. "Nah, keep the party going."

As Murray's figure receded into the distance, York couldn't help but chuckle, a mix of sympathy and schadenfreude in his laughter.

"Some guys hunt all day only to get pecked in the eye by the prey. Millie's really got a hold on him, huh?"

slack. He's

watermelon for a peanut, only to choke on that peanut. I heard Roseanne got into Kingswell University for grad school. She's all about cutting ties and hitting

watched Murray and Roseanne's tumultuous relationship of breakups and makeups, never imagining it

was really patient, putting up with six years, probably aiming

couldn't respect a woman

always running back at the slightest

seemed that dog was a wolf in disguise, managing to manipulate two men and turn best friends into sworn enemies, now avoiding each other like the plague. Well,

suggested, "Why don't we call Corley Sullivan over

run into each

you, scaredy-cat!" York pulled out his phone and

come

other end, a deep voice answered,

just left, no worries about bumping

"It's not about him."

was puzzled. "Then

keeping it straight. No bars, no staying out late, no drinking unless it's absolutely

baffled. "You okay? What's with the sudden

replied, "I'm getting