Page 113 of Read My Lips

“That’s really what you think this is?” All the lights in the room haloed around Simon, dimming and flickering as his intensity rose. Except they hadn’t flickered at all – they weren’t – it was all the happiness sapping right out of the room.

“What else is there?” The words grazed my throat raw. “It’s a holiday. That’s what you said.”

“From me being your boss.” Urgency pitched into Simon’s voice, but I didn’t want to hear it.

“You are my boss. You’ve always been my boss. And I’ve always been your useful little tool.”

Simon’s eyes sank closed, cutting me off so I couldn’t touch him. I watched the race of his swallow down the front of his throat.

Was he thinking about everything he’d fed me? Talking to me soft in the middle of the night, and curling in around me, and making me want to learn how to cook with him, and make him laugh until his eyes crinkled. I’d wanted all of that, even when he told me he didn’t want my feelings. He couldn’t have it both ways. He should be thanking me for keeping them out of his bloody way.

Simon’s smile flashed harshly false. Shields up.

“Right.” His eyes were dulled. His body hardened to sharp, tense angles. “Glad you’ve been getting what you wanted out of it all, despite everything.”

Under my feet, it felt like the room wobbled. What was that supposed to mean?

“We both were, weren’t we? That’s the whole point. No one’s got to feel guilty. There’s no problem. We’re on exactly the same page.”

Simon laughed, but he pitched it wrong, and it came out flat and gutting. “That is what I thought, yes.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

FRIDAY

Ding!

Notification: Recurring booking – Simon Azie: Monday 9-5

Cancelled by Simon

Ding!

Notification: Recurring booking – Simon Azie: Tuesday 9-5

Cancelled by Simon

Ding!

Notification: Recurring booking – Simon Azie: Thursday 9-5

Cancelled by Simon

Ding!

Notification: Recurring booking – Simon Azie: Friday 9-5

Cancelled by Simon

Simon calling

Call rejected

Simon calling

Call rejected