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“Really?” I asked.
“Yes, really! You finally hooked up with someone. My birthday wish came true.”
Relief flooded into me, but I still hesitated. “But he’s my boss, Shelly.”
She shrugged. “You said you’re more like coworkers. Sitting down and coding together every day. Right?”
“Kind of, yeah.”
“There you go! It sounds like he’s just your boss on paper. That’s way different than if he was, like, yoursupervisor.” She hugged me again, tighter this time. “I’m so proud of you, Amber.”
“For sleeping with my boss?”
“Forallof it. Working at your dream job. Giving it your full enthusiasm. And yes, for allowing yourself to be vulnerable with a guy, even if it’s one of the founders of the company. For the last couple of years, you have holed away in your room upstairs, staring at a computer screen and not reallydoinganything. I’m so proud of you for finally working toward being happy again. Dad would be proud, too.”
Something moved in my chest, next to my heart. I swallowed heavily and smiled at my sister. Dad’s imaginary pride didn’t matter to me anymore, but Michelle’s did. She was all I had, so her opinion meant the world to me.
The doorbell rang, and Michelle moved away from me. “That’s Phil. He brought take-out. I didn’t think you were coming home, so I didn’t ask if you wanted anything…”
“The last thing I want is Phil to learn about any of this,” I warned. “Donottell him anything. If you do, I will tie you up in the closet and burn the house down to collect the insurance money.”
“Not a word.” Michelle dragged her finger across her chest in an X. “Cross my heart and hope to die!”
I covered my plate of pasta with a paper towel and stuck it in the microwave. There were muffled voices down the hall by the front door. Then Michelle said in a clear voice, “Oh, Amber! You have avisitor!”
Jude walked into the kitchen, his laptop bag slung over a shoulder. “Hi, Amber,” he said awkwardly. “I’m sorry to bother you at home, but… the code you were working on today? The relay loop? I found a mistake in it.”
Alarm flashed in my mind for a brief second, then I chuckled. “I already told Shelly. You don’t need to make up an excuse as to why you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t have believed that flimsy excuse anyway,” Michelle replied. “Amber doesn’t make mistakes.”
“You’re right,” Jude said with a small smile. “She doesn’t.”
Feeling silly, but also empowered by his presence in my kitchen, I wrapped my arms around Jude and kissed him. Amber made gagging noises.
“Oh, shut up,” I said.
“Sorry I was stuck in meetings with Owen,” Jude told me. “Investor stuff. Incredibly boring.”
“It’s so tough being a big, important billionaire,” I teased. “I figured you might want a night away from me, anyway.”
Jude glanced at my sister, then whispered, “You figured wrong.”
I beamed up at him.
The doorbell rang again. “Great. Phil’s here. I don’t want that ass-munch knowing about us, so do you mind hiding up in my room?”
“I’d love to see your room. I’m going to judge you based on the posters you have up on the wall.”
“My nerd credibility is unimpeachable,” I said, pushing him toward the stairs. “I’ll bring you pasta.”
“And some snacks?” he asked hopefully.
“Yes. Just go!”
I watched him disappear up the stairs, then glanced at Michelle. She was grinning at me.
“You have aboyfriend,” she teased in a sing-song voice.
