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No, I know that’s not true. I hear the rumors from the marketing department; I know he keeps to himself typically. I quickly type backI’m goodand then proceed to spend the rest of the morning analyzing his text and what it means. He wouldn’t have sent that if he regretted the night, right?
I wonder the whole way to work how he will react if he sees me. Since we’re in different departments, it’s easy to avoid each other. We definitely don’t have to make what happened obvious. Up until the party, I had only ever gotten glimpses of him from across the room. Chances are, I won’t see him, but I can’t help but worry he will ignore me or act like it didn’t happen.
There’s no rules against people in different departments dating, so it’s up to us how we handle this. Though I’m sure they’d frown upon fucking in Alex’s office, but we’ll keep that part to ourselves. We didn’t talk about how we’d act at work, so I tell myself approximately 5,000 times on my way there that I will be fine if he does ignore me. That it was one fantastic night, and that’s okay. If I say it enough times, I’ll start to believe it, right?
I get my answer on what his feelings are about our coworkers knowing about us half an hour after I arrive.
Just as I’m logging in, Alex walks right up to my desk, planting himself in front of me. I knew it was him before I even looked up. His smell is intoxicating and the energy he somehow emits is addictive. I’d know him everywhere.
My eyes are fixated on his hard jawline and his muscles flexing under his button-down as he leans over my desk. It’s hard to concentrate on anything else, but I eventually drag my gaze away from his chest and to his eyes.
“Good morning, Zach.” He’s so close to me. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything when he is standing so close?
“G-good morning.”
“I wanted to see how you were feeling.”
“I texted you back.” Is my voice really as high as it sounds? I really can’t keep it cool around this man.
Alex snorted and leaned back on my desk so that he was partially sitting on it with his feet planted on the ground in front of me. “Sorry, but I need more than an ‘I’m good’ after last night.”
His voice is low and there’s nobody nearby, so I know he isn’t heard, but I still flush with embarrassment.
I’m also extremely touched by his consideration. I’ve never had a partner care so much how I was feeling after sex. Most of the time I never heard from them again, and in the times we did date more than one day, any contact was usually about another hook up. It makes me feel special, like maybe this thing going on between us does stand a chance.
After assuring him I’m fine, and answering a lot of embarrassing and highly detailed questions, he finally seems satisfied with my answers. I think he’ll finally leave, especially since my coworkers are starting to file in and notice him standing by my desk.
Instead, Alex does the thing that shocks me the most. He tips my head up with a finger under my chin and kisses my lips lightly before walking away. My mind is in a daze for so long after that, I don’t even have a chance to be embarrassed by the majority of the editing team witnessing the whole exchange.
It isn’t nearly as X-rated as the night before, or X-rated at all, but the moment is so intimate that it feels even more important. That night I don’t dream about the mind-blowing sex or the surprise knot. I dream about Alex pinning me with his stare from across the desk and making sure I’m okay.
* * *
The texts beginfirst thing the following day. Butterflies swarm my belly as Alex’s face fills the screen of my phone. It’s 7:30 am, and I’m smiling like a fool at a picture of a very sleepy-looking Alex sitting in a plastic chair at the airport, holding the largest coffee I’ve ever seen. He captions it withI think I need more caffeine.Fifteen minutes later, I get a video of a guy dressed like Santa running through the airport while security chases after him.
Not wanting to be outdone, I send a picture of the bakery I stop at for breakfast after I drop my apartment key off to my neighbor so she can look in and feed Tiberius during the week. Every employee is fully decked out in some over-the-top Christmas onesie. Two of them are reindeer, one is Santa, another an elf, and one’s even a Christmas tree.
There are gaps in the messages since we’re both traveling, but the texts continue like that through most of the day: each of us taking a new picture that’s more ridiculous than the last. I’m pretty sure Alex is cheating and just googling some of these things at this point, but I still haven’t laughed this much in ages.
Everything feels so easy with Alex, like we’ve known each other for ages instead of a handful of days. I don’t feel nearly as shy and awkward with him as I do with most people. And while it’s still there, just under the surface, I find myself relaxing the more and more as we talk.
When I’m about an hour away from my parents’ house, I get another message from him.
Alex: Just arrived in Houston. Not a drop of snow or slush in sight. Let me know when you get to your parents’, lamb. ??
He ends it with a smiley face with little hearts around it.
I’m practically melting by the time I arrive at my parents'. No one besides my mom ever makes me check in with them and makes sure I’m safe. I love it. Before I even step out of my car, I send him a quick text.
I’m here.
He responds by the time I lug my suitcase out of the trunk.
Good, lamb. I’m glad you made it there safely. Have fun with your family and text me before you go to bed, please.
Warmth fills my belly. I text back a quick affirmative before shoving my phone into my pocket. My mom has opened the door and is watching me with narrow eyes, probably wondering what’s taking me so long. I smile brightly at her and completely ignore the fact I’m quickly falling in love.
* * *
