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“We have nothing to talk about,” I frowned, watching David open my bedroom door. Liv was hovering outside with a card and gift.
“Yes, we do. I’ll see you later.” David smiled, walking out of view.
“Happy birthday!” Liv came in and sat on the corner of my bed. “You have ahugeparcel by the front door, too.” She handed me her gift and card.
“Thanks. Who is the parcel from?”
“No idea. UPS just delivered it.” I opened her card and gift. She’d bought me my favorite perfume. David had bought me a beautiful, platinum diamond necklace. In fact, my parents had gotten me the matching earrings. I wasn’t sure if I liked the fact that they must have planned that.
“Open it then!” Liv ordered as we stood looking at the large brown box. I had no idea who it could be from. Ripping the tape, I quickly opened the box. “A telescope?” Liv frowned as we gazed into the box. There was also a pack of pens with a card attached to it. I knew who it was from the moment I opened it, though. He’d remembered my birthday.
“This is fromAlex,” I gasped, tearing open the card.
Happy 30th Birthday, Straight Lace
I’m hoping you still watch the stars at night. If you do, this will help you see them better. I’ve included a star gazing book and a box of pens that you can organize by color.
Love,
Alex (aka The Asshole)
P.S. I miss you.
Tears stung my eyes as I read the note. What did I even do with this? He missed me, but that wasn’t enough. I’dneverbe enough for him.
“Wow, Nat. That is…so damn romantic.” Liv widened her eyes as she passed the note back to me after reading it. “Why does he refer to himself as The Asshole, though?”
“Because he is one.”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No. I need to get ready for work. I’m going to be late.”
Liv couldn’t question me anymore, but my mind was still racing as I took a shower. Did I contact him? What was the point? It was just a gift. He knew where I lived, and if he really cared, he’d have turned up here himself. Not sent a damn UPS driver.
Everyone at work knew it was my birthday. That was the problem with call centers; gossip spread like wildfire. Neil had brought a birthday cake in for me, and I wanted the ground to swallow me up when they all stood around my desk, singing happy birthday at lunch.
“What are your plans tonight, Nat?” Neil asked, coming over to my desk later that afternoon. “Are you going out with your boyfriend?”
“Yes. My parents are coming, too.” David wasn’t my boyfriend, but I pretended he was so Neil would stop asking me out.
“That’s nice. Are you ready to go over this week’s sales figures in my office?”
“Sure.” Grabbing all my paperwork, I followed him. The office I worked in was an open layout. It got very noisy when over one hundred people were all talking on the phone, which was why Neil and I always met in his enclosed office.
“Your team is looking strong, Nat. Your figures are up again,” he beamed, looking over my paperwork. I was about to respond when we were both distracted by the screaming and commotion outside. What the hell was going on in the office? Frantic knocking suddenly came at Neil’s door.
“Come in,” he called, confused.
One of the telesales girls appeared. She was out of breath, holding her chest. “Erm…Natasha, someone is here to see you.”
“Who?” She didn’t need to reply, though. I could hear the women in the office shouting and screaming his name. What the hell was Alex doing here? Rushing to the door, I made my way out onto the sales floor. It was utter chaos. Chairs had been knocked over, and all the women were crying and screaming. At the back of the room, a large crowd had gathered.
I made my way toward the crowd, pushing through the masses to find Alex. Jesus, I hope he had security with him. As I neared the middle, I spotted Shane and Steve.Thank God.
“Shane!” I called. He heard my voice and turned toward someone I couldn’t quite see. My heart was hammering loud in my chest as Shane drew closer. I knew who would be behind him. The moment my eyes locked with Alex’s, I shoved past the last few people in my way. Fuck, he wasreallyhere! At a call center! Was he insane?
“Straight Lace,” Alex breathed out in relief, pulling me into his arms. “Happy Birthday.”
