“We were just teasing; I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.” Collin looked up and down the hall.
Tears were pooling in my eyes and I was shaking, but I didn’t know why.
“Come on.” Collin grabbed my arm and pulled me into Patrick’s office. It was empty. Thank God.
“I’m sorry. I was just kidding.” He grabbed a bottle of water from the bar and handed it to me. “Sit down.” Thankful my knees found the couch before they gave out. Not sure why my mind felt like it was about to separate from my body. I wasn’t embarrassed, I realized. I was surprised.
Patrick didn’t have a crush on me.
What did a crush mean, anyway?
“Oh, no.” I held my hand to my stomach.
“Oh, shoot, are you going to throw up?” Collin's eyes darted around.
The conversation replayed in my head, each word a fresh indictment. My questions to Patrick weren't just probing; they were deeply personal. Highly inappropriate.
“Kylie.”
I focused on Collin. He stumbled behind Patrick’s desk, rummaging for something. He reappeared with a trash can in hand. “Here.” He scurried back to my side. Sitting the trash bin at my feet. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I sat back and took a sip of water, and closed my eyes.
“Patrick doesn’t really have a crush on me, does he?” I whispered. Collin said nothing. I opened my eyes. His lips pressed flat; his gaze fixed on something just past my shoulder.
I turned around.
Patrick stood in the doorway, one hand still on the frame. He wasn’t confused. He had heard every word, and he knew that I knew, and the look on his face was something I didn’t have a name for yet.
CHAPTER 12
PATRICK
Iapproached my office door. A muffled but clear voice came from inside.Crush. Me.
What could have brought up this topic of conversation?
To give them credit, both Collin and Kylie looked guilty as fuck.
“I’m sorry.” Collin stood rubbing the back of his neck. “Tyler and I were on the phone, and you know Tyler. He was just joking. We were joking.”
Kylie stood and hugged herself, much like she did atThe Sphere.She seemed so small. “I have work to do.” She peeked up at me but then dropped her chin to her chest and darted out the door.
“Kylie,” Collin pleaded. He stepped toward the door to follow her.
I held up a hand. “Why don’t you get back to work, Collin?”
“Boss,” he sighed. “I didn’t mean to talk out of turn. But you know how it is when Tyler and I get going.”
“I wasn’t aware you and Tyler had gossip breaks in the middle of the workday.” I walked to my desk and sat down, gripping the armrests.
“Oh, we don’t.” Collin turned to face me. “He was calling to ask if he and Maddox could come to the show tomorrow. He said he knows it’s last minute, but Rayna and Tinley just called him and told him he had to go.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” I rubbed my temples. “Let Martin know and make sure they add more seats in their section.” I grabbed my phone.
Patrick: Heads up. Tyler and Maddox are coming tomorrow.
Kyler:
