Page 66 of Stay Wild Darlin’

My stomach twisted.

Did I cross a line?

Did he?

What even was that?

I didn’t mean to walk in. I really was getting water. The door wasn’t fully shut, and I thought I heard something—I did knock—but then I saw him and . . .

My thighs pressed together.

I’d never seen a man look like that before.

Typically, I’d turn to my internet group, but tonight, that wouldn’t cut it. I needed someone. I needed to talk to a real person.

My hands shook as I grabbed my phone, breath shallow and uneven as I scrolled to her name.

Fable.

I hit call before I could talk myself out of it.

She picked up on the second ring.

“I know I saw you earlier and you’re probably sick of⁠—”

“Uh, not at all,” she said quickly, cutting me off. “What’s wrong? You sound . . . terrible.”

“C-Can I come over?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“Okay,” I whispered, swiping at the corners of my eyes as the first wave of emotion finally cracked through my chest. “Okay, I’m on my way.”

“I need to quit,” I said softly, sitting in the middle of Fable’s living room.

She’d already draped a blanket around my shoulders, handed me a large glass of wine—thank God—and sent Beau out so we could be alone. It was the kind of friendship I’d never had before. The kind I’d always secretly wanted.

She sank into the armchair across from me and waited.

I took a sip of wine—more like a gulp, really—and let the words tumble out.

“Because tonight . . . I walked in on my boss. Coming.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Coming?”

I nodded, wide-eyed. “Like . . . coming, coming. And not only that.” My heart raced like I was back in that kitchen. “He said a name when he did it. It was mine.”

Fable gasped, full hand-to-mouth, eyes-round kind of gasp, and burst into laughter. “Oh my god, Poppy! I’ve been waiting for this to happen, but honestly? I thought you two would at least kiss first.”

I buried my face in my hands. “This isn’t funny!”

“It’s a little funny,” she said, still grinning. “Okay, wait, back up. You walked in on him, he said your name, and now you’re here, wrapped in a blanket, telling me you need to quit?”

“Yes. What the hell am I supposed to do? Pretend I didn’t hear it? That I didn’t see . . . everything? He had his hands— and the door was open— and I—” I groaned. “I need to disappear.”

Fable leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Or . . . hear me out . . . you could stop pretending you don’t want him.”

“I’m serious, Fable,” I whispered. “I need this job. I don’t have a backup plan. I can’t quit and go crying back to my family. Not after how hard I fought to make this life mine.”