Page 43 of Her Wicked Plan

“Whatever. If you fuck her and it isn’t good or you aren’t feeling it after, then you will barely see her. It’s not like you work together all day, every day.”

He has a point. Not that I will admit that. Between the time we met at the party and the conversation in the hallway, we hadn’t seen each other since. If things were to get messy, would it really be that awkward after?

“Get out of your head, man.” Myles's voice breaks me out of my thoughts. Reading my mind like he always does. “There are no rules about banging your coworkers.”

“I can not believe you just used the word banging. What are we, back in college?”

“Apparently not! The Leo I knew in college wouldn’t have hesitated to go for a piece of ass.”

Sighing, I approach the lake; the tiny shred of hope in my chest, thinking Scarlet would be out here, deflates. The wooden bench is empty. Take this as a sign you shouldn’t get involved with her. Helping myself to a seat directly in the middle, I gaze at the dark water.

“Myles, people change after college.”

A long exhale comes from him this time. “I know, but... all you do is work. Eat, sleep, drink, and work. The only time I saw you let loose recently was the two times I dragged you out before you left.” A beat of silence. “I don’t want you to miss out on your life. I get you need to be professional; I do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun occasionally.”

“Fuck, man. When did you get so wise?”

He laughs. “Your mom taught me a thing or two when you’d take me to visit for holidays. She always gave me life advice when I never asked for it.”

“She tends to do that.” I think back to all the days in college when I would take Myles back to my family for holidays, seeing how his family was shit. “And her advice is always great.”

“I learned from the best.” His voice fills with pride.

Would it be so bad to let loose and have fun? That is the question I should ask myself, but then there is another question lurking in the back of my mind, attempting to push forward.

Who to have fun with?

I shove the tempting question out of my head and lock it up tight. I won’t allow it to surface.

Would it be stupid to have that fun with someone I work with? This topic shouldn’t be making me frantic like this. We are talking about sleeping with a girl. I’ve slept with plenty.

Why the hell am I acting as if this is the first time? Like I am about to lose my virginity, for fuck's sake. Sliding my hand down my face, a sigh of defeat pushes past my lips.

“Is that the sound of someone giving in?” Myles breaks my concentration, but I hear footsteps behind me when I am about to respond.

With the phone against my ear, I peer over my shoulder to see Scarlet approaching me.

I mutter under my breath, “Goddammit.”

So much for taking it as a sign.

Even though she was the topic of conversation and who I wanted to be sitting with on this bench, she can’t be here right now. I need more time to think about what Myles said.

To come up with a way to bring the idea up to her without sounding like a complete douchebag. Is there even a way to ask without sounding like that?

“What’s going on?” Myles asks.

“Want some company?” Scarlet is now at the end of the bench, a sweet smile on her face.

“Holy shit, is that her?” My friend’s voice has lowered to a whisper. “FaceTime me! I want to see what she looks like!”

“I’ll talk to you later.” My thumb hits the button to end the call before Myles can say anything stupid.

“I’m sorry,” Scarlet apologizes sincerely. “I didn’t mean for you to end your conversation.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I dismiss her apology, moving down the bench to make room for her. “I would love some company.”

She gives me a small nod paired with that beautiful smile. As soon as she gets comfortable next to me, a breath of relaxation leaves her. Her eyes peer out to the water, her lips parting, “I hope you are having a better day than me.”