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Brandon shrugs as he walks over to the huge corner sectional couch and sits down. “Like I said to you last night, it’s pretty fucking obvious you like her.”
I follow him over, letting out a long sigh as I flop onto the couch and try to decide how much I should admit. It’s not like I don’t trust Brandon. On the contrary, he’s probably one of only a handful of people I do trust. We’d always been good friends in high school, but after my parents passed, Brandon’s family had practically taken me and my brother in and he and I had become like brothers. We’d applied to college in Seattle together and always had plans to go into business together too.
Leaving Seattle to come here had been a choice, but it has also been hard, not really knowing anyone. Kind of makes finding someone I’m into hard too and sometimes being alone feels easier.
But then I met Zoey and fuck me if I my reaction to her hadn’t surprised the shit out of me. I have never reacted to a woman like that before, just like I never expected to fall for her. And work situation aside, the reality was and is, that I have fallen for her. In a big way.
So as difficult as this may be, I know I can talk to Brandon about it. He doesn’t work here so I know he won’t go blabbing about it to anyone, nor will he judge me for it either.
“Ethan?” he prompts, taking a sip of his drink.
I do the same, sinking back into the couch as I rest an arm along the back of it. “It’s not like Idon’tnot like her,” I say, still uncomfortable admitting how I really feel out loud. “But it’s complicated.”
Brandon chuckles, shaking his head because what I said makes no sense. “Why, because you work together?”
“Because she worksforme,” I say, looking over at him. “Do you know how that would look?”
He shrugs. “So, keep it quiet.”
“It’s not as easy as that,” I say with a scoff. “This isn’t Seattle, you know. It’s a small town in comparison and people talk. Shit, they’re probably already talking.”
“Yeah, so what. They’re talking and nothing’s even happened,” he says. “Wait, has anything happened?”
I let out a laugh. “No, Brandon, nothing has happened. Nothingshouldhappen either.”
He waves a hand as though he doesn’t agree before continuing. “Look, people will always talk but the fact is, it’s no one’s fucking business what’s going on.”
“I know that,” I say exhaling. “But think about how it will look for a second. I’m her boss. I’m mentoring her in this management program. I’m also significantly older than her too. If that all doesn’t scream abuse of power or whatever, then fuck…”
Brandon takes another sip of his drink, watching me as he takes in my words. I can practically see his brain ticking over as he contemplates his response, even though I’m not sure there’s anything he can say that can make any of this okay.
“Alright,” he eventually says, letting out a breath. “I hear what you’re saying, Ethan, I really do, but…” He pauses, taking another sip of his drink before continuing. “I’ve known you for a long time, and we’ve been through a lot together.”
“We have,” I confirm with a nod.
“And yeah, we had some fun and we got up to some shit when we were making all our money, but things changed and honestly, I’ve never been happier than I am right now.”
I smile, holding my glass up in a cheers. “I know you are, and I’m happy for you.”
Brandon smiles, as he holds his glass up too. “I want that for you too, Ethan,” he says. “And I’ve seen it can be a possibility.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Last night at dinner,” he says, suddenly serious. “I could see it, Trace too. You really like her and it’s obvious she likes you, but more than that, you look happy when you’re around her.”
“Yeah, but—”
“But nothing,” he says, cutting me off. “Don’t worry about the age thing or the gossip. If it’s what you both want, then go for it. Keep it on the down-low until you figure out if it can work and then, I don’t know, just fuck what everyone else thinks.”
I laugh, shaking my head a little at the simplicity of his explanation. “Okay and what about the part where I’m her boss?”
Brandon snorts. “Please, I know I haven’t been here long, but honestly, Ethan, last night at dinner you and Zoey acted like equals, not like boss and employee or whatever. And trust me, having been your one and only business partner, I know exactly what that looks like.”
Groaning, I sink back into the couch, my head falling back as I contemplate everything he has just said to me and whether something between Zoey and me could ever work out.
Especially if we keep it all a secret.
Chapter12
