Page 36 of The Cost of Love

“It is almost like watching a dance. It’s graceful.”

I blow out a laugh and finish off the last of my meal. “I’m glad it looks easier than it is. My feet are killing me, and my cheeks hurt from all the fake smiling. But only three more hours and then I’m done.”

“What are you doing after?” he asks.

Contemplating if I want to answer honestly, I look past him. If I say I’m free, I know what he’ll say, which goes directly against keeping this purely sexual. But if I lie, then that means I miss out on more time with him. And damn, I really want more time with him.

“I was going to hang around here for a couple of hours until my catering shift. Got a better offer?”

“Do you like sushi?”

“I’ve never had it.”

He seems shocked before it looks like he remembers that, until a couple of weeks ago, my favorite food was Taco Bell. Gathering himself, he offers to take me to a late lunch. I’m about to point out that we just ate, but be damned if I turn down free food. So instead, I agree and get back to work.

Chapter 15

Alex

Iknow for a fact I’ve barely been productive today. Rescheduling all my meetings and working from an unsecured Wi-Fi means that I’ve mostly just been reading emails and reports. Feigning being busy, I try to act like I’m not staring at her every five minutes. By the way she shakes her head every time she catches my eye, I can tell I’m not pulling it off.

If the board knew how little I was taking this role seriously, they would try to revoke it earlier, but the results I’ll be able to bring to the table will show that my little time has still resulted in great growth. That doesn’t stop Lorenzo from making uninvited stops at the office once a week. However, I can handle him and this job with ease.

Which is why even though it’s only going to be 2 p.m. when she is done, I’m going to stop work as well. What I miss, I can always review later. It will be worth it to spend a couple of hours with her.

Who knew that watching her come undone in my arms would result in this type of fixation? I can’t help it, I’m addicted to her.

Of course, that thought reaches the mind of my mother, because like every time I think about going to see Chanice, she is calling. I want to ignore it, but I don’t.

“Mother.”

“Why haven’t you seen Elizabeth?”

I look down at the table and imagine myself banging my head against it.

“I saw her a couple of weeks ago.”

“Exactly. It’s been weeks. What could you possibly be doing with your time?”

I look over at the person who has been the main focus of all my energy and thoughts. Between work and giving my free time to her, I haven’t really had the availability to follow through with Elizabeth.

“I’ll plan a date with Elizabeth.” The way I grip my phone feels like it will leave an imprint in my palm.

“You will do more than that. I have held up my end of the bargain; you better hold up yours.” She continues to rant, for what feels like too long, reassuring me that I am doing the right thing by seeing Chanice.

Any escape I can get from these expectations will be like treading water while drowning. Those moments of getting air are what’s going to help me keep fighting.

“Okay,” I say, after reaching my breaking point, “I will call her right now.”

“Good, and you will come to church with me this Sunday. People already think the children I have raised are heathens, no need to further that narrative.”

I give my mother a crisp agreement and then hang up.

“You ready?” Chanice asks, walking up with her bag.

She’s in a plain white shirt and jeans with her hair piled on top of her head, and yet she still looks breathtaking.

“Let’s go,” I say.