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I pull away and look down at her. “You’re sure? I hate that I made you cry.” I can’t help but touch her. Reaching up, I grip her face and wipe her tears with my thumbs. “I’m so sorry.”
She gently untangles herself and I help her to sit back in her chair. I do the same, then pick up my beer so I have something to hold since I feel like an awkward fuck right now.
“I called 911... it was all a blur after that. I did weak-ass CPR on her... it didn’t help. She’d had a massive heart attack hours before I got there. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, they said. I hadn’t gotten there until like three in the afternoon. Her eyes were open, and it was just...”
I squeeze her hand. “That’s enough. I get the gist. You don’t need to tell me any more.”
She nods and purses her lips. Then, she reaches up and grabs her wine, downing the whole glass in one sip.
“Well, this turned into something heavy, didn’t it?” I comment, forcing a smile to my lips.
Taryn also forces a smile. “It did, but it’s okay. I haven’t talked about it since... Well, I told Eric and Christa, but that’s it.”
“Is Christa a friend?” I inquire.
She nods. “Yeah, my BFF. Helped me with everything. She’s a paralegal at the law firm I work at. Used to work at.”
“You’re going to be much happier at Lockwood. We’re going to keep you challenged and busy. Updating software and replacing broken keyboards is a thing of the past for you. App development is very exciting.”
She laughs and I’m happy to see a smile that reaches her eyes. “God, you’re more of a nerd than I am. Exciting app development? Seriously?”
We both tumble into laughter right as Maria delivers a steaming pile of wings with a plateful of sauces—and plastic bibs with chickens on them that make me chuckle.
My face hurts from smiling. Same ol’ Taryn, just more mature. And breathtakingly more beautiful. How am I going to remain professional at the office, knowing she is there every day? I want nothing more at this moment—after I devour a few wings, of course—than to take her back to my place and fuck an apology and all the soothing I could into her.
NINE
Taryn
––––––––
I’m stuffed with wineand wings, and I can’t remember when I’ve had a better time. I’m happy when Carter pays the tab and walks me to my car. Gone is the dick from the phone call we had a few days ago. This is the Carter from my youth. I’d even laughed when the Nuggets won the basketball game and he’d cheered like a teenager.
“So, Monday?” he asks, his proximity next to the driver’s side of my car very close but not uncomfortable. He’s awakening things in me that remind me of five years ago.
I nod slowly, staring up at him as I lick my lips nervously. “Yeah.”
