Page 5

I was rigid, staring down at my crossword with unseeing eyes. There was no answer at first, until I heard Larkin uncomfortably reply, “Oh. Yeah. That was a while ago.”

“You weren’t interested?” Holt immediately asked. “Maybe dating someone might stop you drooling over all the wrestlers.”

My throat bobbed as I forced myself to relax the grip on my pencil. It was fine. I had no claim over Larkin—none at all. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him “drooling” over all the wrestlers. It was wrong of me to get… irritated by it.

“It’s not like they’ll all stop walking around half-naked and being ridiculously hot if I start dating someone,” Larkin said with a huff. “Besides, I’m cool being single. I’m a free spirit, bro.”

And that was one of the many reasons why I had never and would never tell him how I felt about him. Not to mention the fact that I was certain he’d reject me, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to bear it after spending so long pining for him. He was young and carefree and, rightfully so, not interested in anything serious.

I, on the other hand, was not a free spirit. I was too serious for him. And too possessive.

It wouldn’t work, even if he was interested in me that way. Which he wasn’t.

Releasing a slow breath, I tuned back in to the conversation in time to hear Holt call Larkin a little shit for some reason I’d missed, before saying, “Do what you want, Lark. Just no drinking until the show’s over, at least.”

Another slow, calming breath ruffled the page of my crossword book. Babysitting Larkin while he got drunk with the wrestlers was a unique form of torture. He got extra flirty. Said things he definitely shouldn’t. Openly stared at the wrestlers, clearly imagining himself tangled in various naked positions with them.

Larkin wasn’t good at sitting still, so he usually jumped at the chance to spend the evening backstage with the wrestlers instead of working. Which meant I was shocked when I heard him say, “After I go get Cora, I might just come back here. Do some work.”

I heard my boss let out a choked sound of disbelief. “Do some work? What work?”

As they devolved into their usual bickering, I quietly agonised over what to do for the rest of the evening. If Holt was going to watch the wrestling with Taylor in his private box, they’d want to be alone. I’d have a few free hours, which I’d usually spend in the office where it was quiet and empty.

But if Larkin was going to be in there all evening…

I could go upstairs and hang out with Ludo on the door in the lobby, or find a quiet, empty part of the club to do my crossword in peace. There were plenty of places I could go where Larkin wouldn’t be. I didn’t have to sit in there with him.

Holt sounded like he didn’t really believe that Larkin would stay in the office all evening when he said, “Alright. Well, have fun, I guess. Seb will probably stay in here to keep you company.”

My gut tightened. I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t go and sit in there with him, because what would be the point? I’d be clenched up and tense, trying not to inhale his scent too much, trying not to watch him furtively from the corner of my eye, trying not to imagine lifting him onto his desk and peeling him out of his suit…

Larkin’s voice was a little hoarse as he said, “’Kay. Well, whatever. He—I’ll be, um, busy. Working. So… whatever.”

My brows twitched into a frown. He sounded nervous, but like he was trying to hide it with indifference. Why was he nervous? He never gave a shit about me sitting in there with him. He usually just sat on his phone.

I tried to think of some way I might’ve offended him or pissed him off, my mouth flattening into a grim line. I couldn’t have. I said as little as possible to Larkin, and I was never rude to him. I was never rude to anyone.

I smoothed my expression into a blank mask when the door opened, then gave Holt and Taylor a nod as they smiled at me and made their way down the corridor hand in hand.

No sounds came from the room behind me, but I was painfully aware that Larkin was alone in there. I wondered what he was doing—whether he was actually going to stay in there and work later, or if he’d said it as a cover for something… like sneaking off with one of the wrestlers between matches.

Before I even realised I was moving, I found myself opening the door and walking silently over to the couch. I didn’t even look at him, but I could feel him staring at me.

“H-hey,” he eventually croaked, sounding nervous again.

I had to answer. I couldn’t just outright ignore him, especially because I was still worried that I’d somehow pissed him off. My gut squirmed at the thought of Larkin being annoyed with me.

“I won’t disturb you if I sit in here, will I?” I asked blankly, forcing myself to glance at him before quickly looking back down at my crossword.

“Um, no.” From the corner of my eye, I saw him fidgeting, jerking his chair from side to side before he pulled it closer to his desk and grabbed his phone. “No, you’re—It’s cool. I’m just, um… working. I guess.”

My mouth wanted to curve into an affectionate smile. He really was a terrible assistant. Unfortunately, I just found it endearing.

“Think you’ll stay here tonight?” he asked, his voice carefully light. “Not gonna go watch the show?”

I rarely watched the wrestling, and never from the arena with the rest of the audience, so why had he asked me that?

Did he not want me in here?