Page 145 of I’m The Worst

I look away immediately.

Reaching Dad’s office, I shove the heavy door open without knocking. The scent of leather, whiskey, and old books hits instantly.

And then⁠—

My heart stops.

Wolff.

He stands near my father’s desk, broad shoulders filling out a fitted gray shirt, dark jeans hanging low over black boots. His beard is trimmed shorter than before, his dark hair neater.

The sight of him has me forgetting how to breathe.

“AJ.” My father smiles from behind his desk. “Perfect timing.”

Wolff turns fully toward me, and his green eyes lock onto mine. Everything inside me stumbles.

Five weeks.

Five fucking weeks of silence.

No texts.

No calls.

Nothing.

And somehow one look from him still wrecks me.

I can’t tell if he’s happy to see me. Nothing about his face gives anything away. I force myself to move, sitting stiffly while trying not to stare at Wolff standing across the room, looking hotter than he has any right to look.

“I was just congratulating General Maddox on his promotion.” Dad beams proudly. “Youngest in our section’s history.”

I force myself to look up at him. “Congratulations.”

Wolff’s gaze flicks over me before settling somewhere over my shoulder.

“Thank you.” His voice is cold enough to hurt.

My eyes drop impulsively toward his hand.

No ring.

Of course not. Heat rushes to my face as I curl my own hand into my lap, hiding my finger.

“And AJ,” my father continues, stepping around the desk, “Doctor Reed says you’ve made excellent progress.”

“Uh…yeah. I guess.”

It’s amazing the things you can pretend about yourself when you don’t have the energy to care anymore. But why the hell is he talking about this in front of Wolff?

Dad watches me carefully with that softened expression he’s worn ever since I came home.

“There’s actually another reason I wanted you here today. A new Commander transferred into our section last week. David Holmes.”

I frown. “Okay…”

There’s a brief hesitation before he speaks again.