Glittery eyeshadows in an array of purples and pinks coat my eyes before I line them in black, as always, with a swipe at the end. My dark burgundy lips make me worry for a second if I’m overdoing it with the makeup. Then I see the all-black clothes in the mirror and laugh. I’m too much of a 90s goth reject to overdo it with the makeup.
Wash that off your face. What are you, Satan’s whore? That’s a whore’s color. What kind of man finds a fat clown like you attractive?
I slam the lipstick down on the counter, snapping the bracelet around my wrist while I try to block out my mother’s voice from my head. When it passes, I grab a few necessities and shove them into the backpack I’ve loaded with my tablet and anything else I might need today.
My phone buzzes on its charger, and I dart across the room and grab it.
James
Be there in five
“I still can’t believe I tried to have sex with you in the bathroom,” I mumble to my phone, laughing. I was unprofessional and drunk; he was there and willing. That’s all. But I can’t stop thinking about it—I even dreamt about it.
Lexi
Great, I’ll be right down!
I study myself in the mirror again and groan. If there’s nothing between us, why am I wearing makeup? I finish packing everything up in my backpack and glance at the jacket hanging off the back of my couch. If he doesn’t like me, why would he let me borrow his jacket? I should bring it downstairs and give it back to him. Instead, I slip it on, letting the smell of whiskey and spice pull me into a daydream. The one I had in the shower after Dani left this morning. The daydream where his fingers don’t stop and…
James
Parked across the street
Really hope you’re hungry ?? Might have overdone it.
I stare at the winky face. Is he flirting? Was it weird that a guy would use a winking emoji? I nearly convinced myself that booze was the root cause of everything we said last night. The good and the bad. But now I’m not so sure. Maybe he meant what he said in the parking lot. Or, it’s just an emoji.
“Okay, you fucking weirdo.” I mumble to the empty room. “Enough overthinking for now!”
Professional. I’m going to keep it professional today. The smell of his cologne hits me again, and my heart flutters as the butterflies wake up and start their antics again.
??D??
Have fun today… I miss you at the office already!! I may need you to help me bury Kennedy in the desert somewhere.
You’ll be fine today!
But you two looked SOOOO fucking CUTE together last night!!!
I sling my bag over my shoulder and scoop up my keys before running down three flights of stairs. I fly out the main door of the building, spotting him right away. He’s leaning with his foot against a blue Jeep that looks like it’s both well-used and well-loved. He doesn’t see me as he laughs at his phone with a cup of coffee in his other hand.
I stop and stare. With so much happening, I never stopped to check him out beyond his face. Which is a little weird, because he looked—and felt up—every inch of my body while we danced. I bite back the wicked smile, remembering how he felt when I moved against him. Based on what I felt, I bet he looks phenomenal naked.
He’s dressed down today, a t-shirt instead of a button-down and no vest. I can’t stop staring at how tight the shirt is around his chest and biceps; it shows me he hasn’t missed arm day in a long time. Not bulging, body builder muscles, but just that right, thick, sexy as fuck appeal. He’s got a tiny waist, so the bottom half of his shirt is baggy and so are the shorts that hang off his hips. I get a little jealous momentarily, wondering if he’s smaller than me. Fucker even has the audacity to have nice legs. Rude.
I don’t want a relationship. But I sure as hell wouldn’t complain if this guy broke my back a few times. What did Dani say? We could mutually relieve stress?
I watch his tongue slide over his lips and realize I have no idea what he tastes like. We didn’t kiss. I mean, he kissed my neck, and we had a few near kisses. We were so busy trying to get into each other’s pants it never happened. Now, as he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, I’m regretting?—
PROFESSIONAL! I let out a slow breath and collect myself again before I head toward him.
“Hey, good morning.” His smile is bright as he spots me. He reaches into the Jeep and hands me a giant iced coffee milk tea with boba and I forget how words work the second our fingers touch. “I, uhm, I went to the shop by your office and asked the kid what you usually order.”
“Oh,” is the only thing my brain and mouth can agree on saying.
His scruff is a little thicker today, perfectly framing those pretty, full lips I’m trying not to stare at. He’s wearing sunglasses and a backward baseball hat, which still looks good, but I secretly wish I could see his eyes again and that soft, fluffy hair with its slight curl to it.
“I’ve got some Tylenol in my bag if you need it today. I’m sure I will.”
