Page 53 of Glitched Play

She is dangerous.

By the time she finishes, nobody is questioning the program anymore. They’re asking implementation questions. Staffing questions. Timeline questions. Expansion questions.

Maci answers every one.

When the room finally empties, I remain seated longer than necessary.

She gathers her laptop and reaches for the presentation remote at the same time I do.

Our fingers brush.

Barely.

A second of contact.

Skin against skin.

Insignificant.

Except neither of us moves immediately.

Her breath catches.

Mine doesn’t. I’ve spent years hiding how I feel and what I feel.

She pulls her hand back. “We keep doing that,” she says quietly.

I look at the remote. Then at her hand.

“Apparently.”

Her mouth curves like she wants to say something else.

I should step back.

Instead, I stay exactly where I am.

That is not efficient.

Dara appears in the doorway before either of us can make the situation worse.

“Excellent presentation,” she says to Maci.

Maci smiles. “Thank you.”

“Also, final gala details were sent to both your inboxes. Black tie. Doors open at seven. Program begins at eight-thirty.”

Maci’s expression freezes. “Black tie?”

Dara nods. “It’s the e-football kickoff gala and SGI Foundation fundraiser.”

“You didn’t mention black tie.” Maci looks over her shoulder to me.

“I didn’t plan the dress code.”

“That wasn’t the question,” she says with a hint of nerves in her voice.

“You didn’t ask a question.”