It breaks my heart to lie to Julia, but I can’t admit it to anyone. Not until I understand what’s going on myself.
“So what was that about yesterday? Both you and Chance left for hours only to come back today with…” She scrunches up her face. “...secrets in your eyes.”
“Secrets in our… is that Shakespeare?”
Julia laughs. “It’s Juliaspeare.”
“I think I like it.”
“I know, right?” She bats her lashes with a smile.
I turn the lock and open the door. “You should do more of that.”
“I will. Wait, are you trying to distract me?”
“Distract you?” I gasp, herding her out. “Certainly not.” Once she’s out, I wave. “See you later.”
I shut the door and cave into myself. I only have to deal with all of this— the feelings, secrets, and pretenses for a week more. Soon, I’ll leave Magic Island and be free of it.
That thought sends a sharp ache into my chest.
Do I really want to leave?
The door yawns open and I skip out of the way. Shit, Julia’s back.
“I seriously wasn’t trying to distract you.” My eyes meet Lindsay’s.
She has awhat the helllook on her face.
“Um… I thought that was Julia.” I turn away and head back to my laptop.
Finally, I manage to wrap up the report I’m writing.
Now, I have to get it to Chance.
Nerves churn in my belly as I head over to his office. Julia gives me a look as I pass by her desk. I ignore her.
Nothing is going on. It’s simply a PA going to give her boss a report. That’s all.
I close my hand around the door handle, take a deep breath and turn it.
Chance is not at his desk. He has his back to the office as he looks out the window.
Is he thinking about yesterday and regretting it? Or maybe he isn’t thinking about me at all because I mean nothing.
That second thought should bring me relief. But it hurts, so bad. I want him to think of me, to want me. Not as an employee or a fake girlfriend but just me, Maddie Lowe.
“Are you going to keep standing at the door or are you coming in?” His stern voice tears through my thoughts.
I shake myself out of the fog of sadness trying to swallow me and shut the door. Then I head over to the desk, sliding the report onto it.
He doesn’t look my way, gaze still fixed outside.
My pulse thrums. I don’t care if his thoughts have anything to do with me. I just want him.
Without putting much thought into it, I cross the space between us and stand behind him. Then releasing a breath, I wrap my arms around his middle.
He receives my touch with a faintoof, probably because I’m squeezing him so hard. I ease up and he turns around.
