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Lena gasps, and Gray swipes a hand through his dirty-blonde hair. It’s the first time I’ve seen his guard drop and it’s as unnerving for him as it is for Lena.
“What I meant was,” he quickly corrects, “Is that we’refriends. We can work together. This won’t be a problem, I’ll make sure of it.”
“Oh you will, will you?” Lena protests, shaking her head. “And how do you propose to do that?”
Gray’s eyes flicker with some unspoken emotion, but he grits his jaw, ripping his gaze away from Lena and looks at me. For the briefest of moments I see the conflict in his eyes, the uncertainty. Maybe he’s having second thoughts about taking the job, or maybe he’s beginning to realise that you can’t run from your feelings forever.
“If you want to back out, we can find someone else for the job…” I say, letting my voice trail off as he considers my offer. I don’t actually want him to back out, what I want is for him to take the job and make my sister happy. But I firmly believe this is something he’s got to figure out for himself.
“No,” he replies after a beat. “Iwantthe job.”
“Then I quit!” Lena explodes. Tears springing to her eyes that she furiously blinks back.
“Lena, you don’t mean that,” I say softly, glancing at York who’s eying me then motioning towards the door.
Let’s leave them to it,he mouths.
“I won’t work with him. It’s either him or me,” Lena says stubbornly, drawing my attention back to her.
“Won’t or can’t?” I ask softly.
Lena swallows hard, then whispers, “Can’t. Ican’twork with him.”
Gray flinches and York pulls open the door to our office. “I think that’s our cue to leave. Come on, Titch, I could use that drink.”
“Yeah, me too,” I agree, pushing up from my desk and swerving around the table. When I get to Lena who is chewing on her lip and trying her very best to keep her tears underwraps, I rest my hand on her arm, squeezing it gently. “Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you.”
“You’re choosing him over me?” she whispers, meeting my gaze.
I shake my head. “I love you. Remember everything I do is for your benefit.Always.”
Pressing my lips against her cheek, I look over at Gray. “It’s about time you sort this out, don’t you think?”
Gray’s mouth drops open, but he slams it shut when Lena squares her shoulders, and tips her chin up, glaring at him. “There’s nothing he has to say that I haven’t already heard.”
“Lena, be reasonable,” I urge knowing that she’s pushing him away because he’s done it one too many times to her. I get it. I really do.
“Why, so he can hide behind his morals and make us both miserable. I’d rather find somewhere else to work, thank you very much.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” York snaps, grabbing my hand and pulling me through the open door and into the hallway beyond. “We’re done here. Let them get on with it.”
“What the heck, York?” I complain as he slams the door behind us both, slides the key in the lock, trapping them both inside.
“Call this an intervention,” he says, smirking as Lena bangs on the door.
“Open the door right now!” she yells, the handle rattling as she tries in vain to open it. “This isn’t funny!”
“It’s not supposed to be, Lena,” he replies, his smile widening when she fires back with a string of curse words.
“York, I’m not sure this is what I had in mind when I meant for them to sort this out,” I say, pulling a face when I hear the low tones of Gray speaking. I can’t make out his words, but I’m positive it isn’t what Lena wants to hear when Lena starts shouting again.
“And you can piss off too, Gray!” she screeches.
I wince. “Sometimes I wonder how we’re even related.”
York lifts his brows. “You are joking, right? She’s as stubborn and hot-headed as you are.”
“I amnothot-headed,” I retort.
