Page 163 of One of Those Amnesia Stories

Then he straightened, nodding decisively.

“I’ll tell Rohan to get rid of the chair. And talk to security.”

He turned to Liam.

“You want to get rid of yours, too?”

Liam, who had been slowly inching toward the door, froze. He looked at the wall. Then the ceiling. Then back at Cassian with an expression of exaggerated confusion.

“Are you… talking to me?”

He gave a nervous chuckle.

“What are you saying? I don’t have a chair like that in my office. In fact, I very clearly remember telling you not to buy that chair. Multiple times. With strong words.”

He was through the door before either of us could respond, his voice drifting back.

“I’m going to find Rohan. Ask him about lunch. He’s probably felt very left out this entire time.”

The door clicked shut. Cassian turned to me, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“So… lunch.” I started toward the door.

“Let’s go.”

“You didn’t expect me to take you somewhere fancy, did you?” I asked, lowering myself onto the bench.

The hot dog cart sat directly across from his building. I’d spotted it the moment I arrived and immediately known where we were going. The smell alone had been irresistible.

“I only take Naija to fancy places.”

I arranged three hot dogs on the paper tray between us and bit into the one in my hand.

Cassian sat beside me, unwrapping his own.

“Let me guess. Felicity complains it’s too expensive?”

I groaned around my mouthful.

“Yes!”

I swallowed and shook my head.

“That woman cannot accept a nice thing without interrogating me about the price. I’ve started scratching off every tag before I give her anything. Otherwise, I get a full lecture about how I’m ‘wasting my hard-earned money’ on her.”

Fond exasperation warmed my voice.

“It’s a forty-minute presentation. Complete with visual aids.”

Cassian chuckled, the sound easy and warm in the afternoon air. He took a bite of his hot dog and chewed thoughtfully.

“How’s Liam with gifts?” I asked. “Does he give you a hard time?”

Cassian shook his head.

“He likes whatever I give him. Last year, I got him a mug.”

I blinked.