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I laugh because I want to make light of it. “Nothing’s going on. We’re just friends. And he’s not married.”
“Well, your father claimed we were separated during his affair, so just because they say they’re single doesn’t mean it’s true. Shoot. I’m sorry. I’m doing it again. Tainting away, right?”
I let out a deep breath. “You never need to apologize. We’re on the same team.”
“Forever, my love.”
“Okay, I’m here at the office. Love you.”
“Love you. Call me later,” she calls out, and I tell her I will as I step on the elevator and end the call.
I’ve been working for an hour when Mya strolls over to my desk. “You want to meet me and Emma for a quick drink after work before we head home?”
I’m supposed to go with Aidan to a diner that he swears has better pastrami than Gino’s. But thoughts of my conversation with my mother flood my head, and I know that crossing the line would be wrong. We’re playing with fire, and I’ve been burned too many times to let it happen again.
“Sure. I’d love that.”
She smiles and runs off when Jack calls her into a meeting. I send Aidan a quick text to let him know.
Hey, sorry to cancel last minute, but something came up.
I watch as the three little dots move across my phone. I can’t help but laugh, seeing as his office is only a few feet away from my desk.
What trumps good pastrami?
He always makes me laugh.
I mean, I can’t exactly say that I’m going to happy hour with Mya and Emma because that’s rude. And I can’t admit that the more time I spend with him, the more I want him. That’s not really an option. So, I say the first thing that comes to mind.
Gynecologist appointment. I have to get my yearly exam.
Everyone knows that men get uncomfortable with the topic, so this should do the trick. I go to tuck my phone away, but it vibrates again.
Awfully late for a vagina inspection.
I chuckle to myself, but I don’t respond. I get it. It wasn’t my best work coming up with that one, but I will leave it alone. Putting space between us is not going to happen if we start talking about my lady parts. I spend the rest of the day avoiding all interaction, even skipping lunch so I don’t run into him in the break room. He doesn’t come by my desk.
Why am I disappointed?
This is what I wanted.
When we get to Mean Mug, I make a conscious decision to leave my phone in my purse so I’ll stop checking to see if Aidan has texted me. I’ve gotten used to those messages and now I look forward to them.
Exactly why this needs to stop now.
“So, what’s going on with you and Willoughby?” Emma gets right down to business as the server sets down three margaritas in front of us.
“What? Nothing. We’re friends.”
“Really?” Mya asks, not hiding her disappointment. “We wanted to set you two up, but things seemed to be going that way all on their own. That night we were all out together, there were some serious sparks coming off the two of you.”
“No. We work together. That would be highly unprofessional.” I raise my glass to my lips and take a sip. The salt hits my tongue at the same time as the tequila, and it helps to relax me right away.
I’m wound tight tonight, and I don’t know why.
Emma coughs after taking a long pull from her glass and sets it down in front of her. She has a ridiculous smile on her face, and she looks at me like I have three heads. “Unprofessional? You’re an admin at the office, and he’s an attorney. You don’t work for Aidan. You’re his co-worker. It’s not like he’s your divorce attorney and you’re secretly banging him while you’re still married.”
Mya chuckles, but all the blood drains from my face at her words and a lump forms in my throat. Emma’s eyes double in size as she takes me in, and I try to look away.
