AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Is this flirting? Are we kicking off the night with flirting?
Keep your head on, girl.
“Come in. I gotta grab my sweatshirt.” He steps forward, and I retreat down the hall to my room. I hear the door close behind me.
“I hope what I’m wearing is okay. I wasn’t sure what proper climbing attire was, so I Googled it,” I tell him as I pull the soft hoodie over my head.
Per usual, I forget to remove my glasses, and they end up wonky on my face as I fumble with pulling my head through the neck of the sweatshirt. I mutter a curse under my breath as I reach up with my free hand and tug them off. Moving to push my right hand through the arm of my sleeve—well, shit, the cuff is bunched up inside the sleeve, so I have to punch and wiggle my hand through the rest of the way. Once my hand breaks through, I tug the hem at my waist and slide my glasses back onto my face. That’s when I see Wade with his arms crossed, leaning back against the countertop bar, watching me with a grin on his smug mouth.
“What?”
He chuffs. “That was entertaining.”
I glare at him but yank at my hem again for good measure, then whip my long ponytail out from between my tank and hoodie and let it fall over my shoulder.
“It was almost like you’d never put on a sweatshirt before. I’m glad I was here to witness that.” His tone is light, and I can apprentice a good teasing.
I roll my eyes but smirk. “It may or may not be a common occurrence.”
Pushing off the counter, he chuckles. “Then maybe I’ll help next time.” He meets me at the front door, where I snag my coat and purse.
“It would be the polite thing to do.”
He motions for me to leave first as I hit the lights off in my apartment. I lock up and then we walk to the elevators in silence, him standing just a little farther away than normal.
He turns to me as we step onto the elevator. “Sorry it took me so long to set this up.”
I look up at him, and he looks a little sad, so I lighten the mood. Snorting, I lift a causal shoulder. “Meh. I figured you were just being nice.” But my tease falls flat. A line creases on his forehead.
“So you thought I wasn’t going to follow through?”
I bite my lip. “I thought it was a possibility, yes.”
“I’ve been slammed at work. I feel like I don’t even know what day it is anymore.” He scrubs a hand over his face and sighs. “I’m sorry I let that dictate my work-life balance.”
Lifting a hand, I stop him right there. “Whoa there, bucko. I’m not harping on you for letting your job take over your life. Hello, have you met me? I’m the poster child for letting the job consume one’s life. I just wanted to make it clear that I was giving you an out.”
The last thing I want is for him to think I’m going to be one of those needy girlfriends. I love my job, and the whole work-life balance is a joke, but I know when I meet the right guy, that balance will be more important. I’m going to guess that will happen for him too. But I’m not going to let one maybe date get us off on the wrong foot.
He sighs, running his hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry you thought I needed—wanted—an out. I’m just not good with stepping back from work. But all I’ve been able to think about is taking you rock climbing.”
I can’t hide my smile as I face forward in the elevator just as it slides open.
“Good answer.” And he chuckles as we walk off the car and head to the front of the building.
