Page 54 of Lying to the Boss

His gaze goes from me to the flowers he’s holding in his hand. He watches them for a long time, until his face softens. When he looks back at me, there is a small smile on his face.

“Thank you,” he finally says.

“You’re very welcome.”

He leaves my office, closing the door gently behind him.

I didn’t sign my name on the card, but I did add sorry for our first fight on there.

It wasn’t much of a fight, more of a slight disagreement, but I was a little meaner than I needed to be. I just don’t understand why he is being so stubborn when it comes to his life. Why struggle when I’m offering everything? It doesn’t make sense. But this is another thing I’ll have to bend to. Because Tage is as stubborn as an ox, and there is no swaying his mind when he’s decided something. But that’s okay. Because I will bend until the man breaks me.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Tage

“Coming!” I shout as I shove my shirt over my head, trying to get it down my still-wet body. I glance down and realize it’s backwards, but it’ll have to do. Better than opening the door half-naked.

I hurry to my front door and look through the peephole. I smile as I pull it open.

“Hope you’re hungry,” Lane says, holding up a brown paper bag.

“I thought you were the neighbor or something.” I pull my arms into my shirt and flip it around.

“Do they normally come over here?”

“They have a few times.”

“Let me guess… they needed a cup of sugar for the cookies they were baking?”

“Toilet paper,” I mutter.

He laughs as he steps inside, then looks me up and down.

“What were you doing?” he asks with a knowing tone.

“I just got out of the shower. I’ve spent the day cleaning.”

“It took you a day to clean this place?”

I glare at him. He laughs when I slap his chest.

“Yeah, yeah. My place is small, so what? If you clean right, it takes time.” I take the bag from his hand and bring it into the kitchen to open it. “Oh, my god, this smells so good. I’m starving.”

“See, I knew you needed me.”

I shake my head as I grab two plates. Lane kisses my cheek, then pulls out the containers of Chinese food from the bag and utensils from the drawers so we can put the food on the plates.

We get comfortable on the couch, find a movie, and eat like an old couple that’s been doing this for years.

It’s my favorite Saturday night tradition.

I act like I didn’t know he was coming, but he always does, even though we never make plans for it. It’s sweet and I look forward to it. He’s a little earlier than usual, which is why I didn’t immediately think it was him.

When we’re finished eating, I put the food away and go back to watching the movie, this time cuddling with Lane. I’m full and content.

We’ve gotten into this routine that seems to work for both of us. He stays here every Saturday night, and I stay at his place twice during the week. I always take his car to work, and Blake drives him. Then I go home by bus, train or cab, and he drives himself.

I know it makes his skin crawl to watch me go. I won’t let him give me a ride or let Blake drive me. He hates it.