Emily snatched the post-it from my hand, holding it closer to her face as if it might reveal additional secrets under scrutiny. “But why... how... when did he...” She looked up at me, her expression somewhere between shock and glee. “What did he say when you confronted him?”
“He said he didn’t know why he did it. That he ‘just had to.’” I ran a hand through my hair, still trying to process everything. “And then I just kind of... left. Told him I’d see him at seven.”
“At seven?” Emily’s eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into her hairline. “What’s happening at seven?”
“I’m going to his place for a movie marathon. Operation UYD.”
Emily’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Operation Unfuck Your Day? You’re bringing out the big guns.” She grinned. “Remember when we did that for Maya after Nate O’Hare saw her naked? Three horror movies and enough ice cream to feed a small country.”
“Yeah, well, Jack looked like he could use it.” I took the post-it note back. “He came back from his trip away looking... I don’t know, haunted or something. I just wanted to help.”
Emily stared at me, then burst into laughter, the sound bouncing off the bathroom walls. “Let me get this straight. You invited yourself over to your hot boss’s house for movies, he gave you his address, you realized he’s been your secret admirer for months, and your response was to say ‘see you at seven’ and walk out?”
Put that way, it did sound completely insane. “I panicked, okay? What was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know, maybe kiss him again? Anything other than just leaving!”
“I told you, I panicked!” I carefully returned the note to my pocket. “This changes everything, Em. Those notes... they started weeks before the fake dating thing. Months, even. The first one showed up right after he started at Catalyst.”
Emily’s expression softened, the teasing glint in her eyes replaced by something more serious. “You know what this means, right? Your fake boyfriend might not be so fake after all.”
My heart did a somersault in my chest. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it? He’s been anonymously encouraging you since day one. He offered to fake date you to protect you from your mother. He’s taking you to Paris, for fuck’s sake!”
“He might be taking me to Paris,” I corrected, though the distinction felt paper-thin at this point. “I haven’t said yes.”
Emily shook her head, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “Mia, honey, this isn’t just office role-play anymore. The man has feelings for you. Like, real, actual, complicated feelings.”
“You don’t know that,” I protested weakly, but the denial sounded hollow.
“Either way, I think it’s time you asked yourself the big question.” Emily pressed, her eyes searching mine.
I was almost too afraid to ask. “Wh-what’s the big question?”
“What in the ever loving fuck is going on here?”
I stared at her, her words, forcing me to confront emotions I’d been desperately trying to ignore. How did I feel about Jack Sullivan? The man who scowled at spreadsheets but looked at me with gentle eyes? Who kissed me like I was something precious? Who left notes reminding me of my worth when he thought no one was watching?
“I have no idea,” I said finally, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. Because I did have an idea, and it terrified me. Denial land felt so much fucking safer than the truth.
MIA
Istood on Jack’s doorstep, clutching a grocery bag full of movie night essentials while my heart threatened to pound straight out of my chest. My finger hovered over the doorbell, frozen in midair as panic surged through me.
What the fuck was I doing here? Dressed in my favorite fleece pajama pants and an oversized hoodie, with my hair piled into a messy top knot, about to enter the private sanctuary of my broody, hot boss.
Before I could talk myself into fleeing, I jabbed the doorbell. The chime echoed inside, making my stomach flip. I shuffled from one ballet-flat-clad foot to the other, mentally rehearsing how normal and casual I was going to be. Totally cool. Just two friends hanging out. Nothing to see here.
The door swung open, and every carefully prepared thought evaporated from my brain.
Jack stood before me in dark gray sweatpants and a fitted long-sleeved henley that clung to his chest in ways that should be illegal in all fifty states. His feet were bare, his hair slightly rumpled, and the day’s stubble had darkened into something that made my fingers itch to touch it. He looked so differentfrom the polished executive I was used to, so much more approachable and yet somehow even more devastating.
“Hi,” I croaked, my voice embarrassingly breathy.
“Hi.” His eyes swept over me, taking in my pajamas and grocery bag. “You came.”
“Of course I came. I said I would, didn’t I? Operation UYD is serious business. Can’t leave a friend hanging when they need a pick-me-up.” I was talking too fast, my words tumbling over each other in a nervous rush. “I brought supplies. Popcorn, chocolate, those little sour gummy worms you mentioned liking that one time, and Red Vines because what even is a movie without them, am I right?”
