AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ican’thelpthesmile that spreads across my face reading Fitz’s response to my reference.
“Can you come take a look at this?” Vic’s voice chimes over the cubicle wall separating us, and I sigh, moving to roll out my chair and stand up when I back into something. Someone, rather.
“Oh, crap,” I call, and turn to see Brianna wiping at her jacket with a tissue in her hand, where coffee has spilled down the front. I wince. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, no, I snuck up on you.” She makes an effort to smile warmly but it still comes across as cold, and she sets her cup on the corner of my desk. “I wanted to come talk to you about the winter collection.” Her face tells me it’s not good news, and Vic, like the nosy bitch he is, rolls out from behind the wall. Luckily, Brianna doesn’t seem to notice.
“Everything ok?” I ask, and slide my phone into the pocket of my dress.
I wrapped up my week of PTO without seeing Fitz again - we texted back and forth, but between commission pieces, meetings, and then added Auntie Piper duties while Brett was out of town for a work conference, I’ve been crashing hard every night.
It also felt like Fitz was staying true to his word about not wanting to rush things. My spicy book reference was, so far, the only dirty text to pass between us, and he didn’t push to come back over.
For now, we were getting to know each other, while we both barreled through what felt like busy times for each of us. Going back to the office was heaven, something I never thought I would say, but I’m dreading the impending doom of my birthday dinner this weekend.
“Oh, yes, it’s fine,” she answers cooly, still dabbing at her lapel. “We need to pivot for this collection, I’m afraid. Something more…mainstream.” My brows furrow. “Your designs are beautiful, Piper, but I want a few more that are in-line with the rest of the team. More subtle.” I bite the inside of my cheek. Subtle. From a lingerie collection that she originally wanted to be Elsa themed.
“Alright,” I reply, trying to keep my tone even. “What did you have in mind?” If she was going to come back with critiques, I needed specific feedback.
“Subtle,” she repeats, and I fight the urge to tell her that’s not helpful. “You know what the brand is.”
“I do,” I start, swallowing hard, “but I also know that our more daring pieces have been pretty successful in previous collections.” She pushes back with a hard look down at me, and I do my best not to wilt. “If I remember correctly.”
“With numbers the way they were last year, we can’t afford daring.” She picks her coffee back up and takes a long draw before continuing. “I’m sorry, Piper. I’ll need at least five more designs by next Friday.” She doesn’t even wait for me to respond before she paces away, and I turn to look at Vic, who’s staring at me with raised eyebrows.
“Breathe,” he says, and I shoot him a glare.
“Simple.” I turn back to my desk and pull my tablet toward me, huffing. “Fucking great.”
“Simple is Brianna’s middle name.” I feel Vic’s hand on my shoulder, and calm a little bit. “Do you need help coming up with anything?”
“No,” I sigh. “I have some extras from the last batch. They’re just boring as hell.” It’s an understatement. Compared to what I love doing, these are practically off-the-rack department store designs.
But, if that’s what Brianna wants, that’s what she’ll get.
When I finally pull into a parking spot at the front of our building, Carla is outside with Bex in a grassy area, talking and scrolling on her phone. She looks up when she hears me, and the glint in her eye makes warning bells go off in my head. This bitch is up to something.
“Did Vic beat me here?” I ask, but already know the answer. He left at least twenty minutes before me - I was too focused on the rage shading I was doing to notice the time.
“He and Kyle are already upstairs.” Her answer is clipped, but there’s something else behind it, and I narrow my eyes at her. Vic was coming over for movie night, but Kyle was popping by to work on a few things before his double header serving gig this weekend.
“And?”
“Nothing,” she says with a sly smile, and that does nothing to set me at ease. Bex jumps at my ankles as we make our way up the stairs, and I push the door open while digging in my purse for my phone, which I haven’t checked since before my conversation with Brianna. When I finally look up, I see Kyle and Vic sitting at the bar in the middle of what looks like an animated conversation.
And Fitz sitting on my couch, holding a bouquet of white roses. No, not roses. Tulips.
I freeze mid-step, and Vic and Kyle quiet as they observe me - probably waiting for my reaction. Carla doesn’t even try to hide her amusement as she finds a corner in the kitchen and leans against the counter.
“Uh, hi.”
Again. Breaking hearts with my charming intros.
“Hi.” He stands from the couch, and I notice he’s still clearly dressed from work, in a white button up and gray dress pants. Wordlessly, he crosses the room, and holds the flowers out to me.
And then, in one swift movement, bends down and brushes his lips across mine in a quick kiss.
If I wasn’t still before, I’m stone now as he looks down at me, one hand on either one of my arms.
