I’m always losing jobs. Jumping from one career to another. Always being too excited, or too stupid, or too much. Sacha inspires me that way, he seems so grounded, so sure of himself and what he wants from life. I find it hard just to stand still when it always feels like the ground is slipping out from under me.
Margot smirks, turning as my friends re-join our table, she asks them, “Have you ever dated someone you work with?”
“Jacob and I are just friends,” Tatiana says very quickly.
“I’m not really interested in women, and she isveryinterested in women,” Jacob laughs, and I think I see a little blush rise up Tatiana’s face.
“How does Cryptech feel about coworkers dating?” Margot asks.
“Well, I know I love talking about it,” Jacob says.
“I think fraternization is fine?” Tatiana interjects. “As long as they don’t work directly under each other, you know?”
“Why?” A wide grin splits Jacob’s face. “Have you got your eye on someone, Temp?”
“No!” I say, far too quickly and too loudly not to be suspicious.
“No. My little Cheddar Bay Biscuit is too smart for an unrequited crush.” Margot steps in, and I’m forever grateful for her cool demeanor. “I’m the one who can’t stop thinking about one of my classmates. She won’t even look in my direction.” Margot throws an arm around Tatiana, pointing into the crowdto create a distraction that takes the heat off of me. She really is the best friend a girl could ask for.
I cannot let my gossipy coworkers find out I’m taking a long weekend with my boss, but the threat of our tryst being discovered isn’t enough to stop my smile when my phone dings with a message. It’s from Sacha. A short, three-line message. An address.
17
MORE DANGEROUS MISTAKE
Sacha
It’s 10:17 AM when Bailey finally shows up at the airfield. I know because I’ve been obsessively checking my watch every ten to thirty seconds. My heart skips a beat when I finally see her bright pink hair shimmering in the morning sun. Despite her frequent text message assurances, I was beginning to think she wouldn’t actually show up.
“Sorry, I’m late. Sorry!” Bailey yells as she approaches, her feet moving quickly, but not quite at a run.
“Was the car I ordered late?” I ask with a frown.
“No,” She admits sheepishly, “it wasn’t the car, it was me. Is this an airport?”
“A small one.”
“I didn’t make us miss the flight or anything did I? Are we getting on a plane?”
“Not a plane.”
“I’m so sorry for being late. I hope I didn’t worry you. I got home late last night, so I had to do a lot of packing this morning, and I know I over packed.” She gestures to her large luggage, its zipper straining to contain the contents. “It’s just two nights, butI wasn’t sure where we’d be going or what we’d be doing, so I didn’t know what to bring. I had a hard time paring it down.” She starts to ramble, a trait I am quickly growing fond of. “And then, I didn’t want to be unprepared, and I wasn’t sure about my hair, or makeup, or?—”
I bend down and stop her nervous words with a light kiss to her lips, taking the chance to casually sniff her comforting scent. “That’s my fault,” I say as I pull away. “I didn’t give you any details about where we were going. Of course you should have everything you need. You look beautiful,” I add. She’s wearing a pink leopard print sweater, and a pair of leggings that I cannot wait to see her turn around in.
“You always say that.” She rolls her eyes before she breaks into a small smile. “You look nice, too. I like seeing you out of a suit.”
It’s just a black Henley and a pair of blue jeans, but I still preen under her compliment. “Are you ready?”
“Not sure if I can answer that, if we’re not taking a plane.”
“I’ll show you.” I slip one hand into hers, pick up her oversized luggage with the other, and tug them both toward the tarmac and the waiting helicopter.
“Are you freaking serious?” she asks.
“You aren’t scared of heights, are you?” I ask, realizing I may have made a mistake. “It takes forever to get to the mountains in a car on the weekend.”
“No! It’s great—” She laughs. “I guess we’ll just have to listen to my carefully curated road-trip playlist later.”
