Page 31 of Galaxy Between Us

I turn around with mango-flavored fizzy water, finding him in front of me instead of near the desk.

“Thanks, Jaimie. That’s, uh, really nice of you,” I nod, taking a sip, and his eyes track my throat with each swallow. Disturbed, I wipe my mouth and set the drink down.

“I’d like to do more projects with you in the future.” He steps even closer with bright eyes. “Maybe I’ll get a telescope named after me, too. I’ve supported you for a long time after all.”

My face pales and I fidget under his gaze. What the hell is he doing? His eyes dip down for a second, and I pale even more. I’m not fully hard, but any blood-flow lingering down there is from expecting Ari to show up. Not Jaimie.

“Of course we can do more projects in the future,” my voice comes out strained as I try to remain professional. Jaimie doesn’t relent, biting his lip suggestively and reaching for the buttons of his shirt.

“Why don’t we do one together right now?” he whispers, unfastening the buttons on his top.

I panic.

“Jaimie, enough, this isn’t– “

“Oh, please. Don’t tell me it's not professional, Knox. You can fuck Arius in here, but not me? What’s the matter with you?” he bites back, continuing to peel off his shirt. “Don’t you want this!”

Maybe Ari and I haven’t been as inconspicuous as we thought. Unsure what to do, I reach for Jaimie’s shirt and snatch it closed, but he battles me. At the same time, my office door swings open, and the Omega I’ve been waiting for stops in his tracks. Mid-argument, Jaimie and I freeze, turning toward Ari.

This looks bad. I know it does, but my hands remain paralyzed on Jaimie’s open shirt. I shove him away and march toward the door, but Ari is already slamming it in my face.

“Arius!” I bellow down the hallway after him. “Ari, wait! That wasn’t what it looked like!”

He doesn’t look back as he marches down the hall. Quickly, he enters the elevator, pushing the buttons with a heartbroken expression. At the last second, I catch the door, shoving my way inside before he can descend. With my speed and stature, I end up barreling into him, pinning him against the far wall as the elevator closes us in.

“Ari, please. Just listen,” I beg.

“Get off me, Knox,” he shoves at my chest. It does nothing, but I push myself off him anyway.

He slips out from under me, trying to press the elevator button to open the door. It doesn’t listen to him and begins descending.

“No! Dammit!” he pounds his fist on the door.

“There’s nothing between me and Jaimie,” I begin calmly after a beat of silence.

Ari tenses but doesn’t face me when he responds.

“Right. That’s why he was on stage with you while I was in the back drying dishes. I get it, Knox. He’s gorgeous. Have at him,” he shrugs, envy thick in his voice.

“I don’t want him like that. He came in unannounced. I told him no, but he wasn’t— “

My sloppy explanation falls flat as the elevator stutters to a halt. Ari and I glance up at the digital display. We’re paused on floor six, but the door doesn’t open, indicating that we must be trapped between two floors. Concerned, Arius approaches the buttons again, aiming for the first floor. He presses it repeatedly, mumbling pleas under his breath. The elevator does nothing.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he runs a stressed hand through his hair. “Does it do this often?” he finally turns around to face me in the tight space.

I rub a hand over the back of my neck and shrug uselessly. Ari scoffs and begins pacing in front of me, fists clenched at his sides.

“Great! Perfect! We’re stuck in here! You fucked up the door!”

I tilt my head and my eyebrows dip.

“Woah, I fucked up the door? What about you rage-pushing all the buttons?”

Angry eyes pin me in place.

“Don’t do this with me right now, Knox.”

I sigh in agitation, pinching the bridge of my nose.