AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You didn’t have to do that,” I mutter when we walk out of the store.
Alice stops in the middle of the sidewalk. She hands me the bag so she can grab me by the face.
I laugh and she scrunches her nose, pleased.
“You are my very best friend,” Alice says, her voice kind and quiet. “I am doing this because lingerie gives confidence. And now, I am going to recommend something that requires confidence.”
“What are you recommending?” I ask, dreading her answer.
She looks at me sideways. “You know.”
I swallow. She drops her hands and we keep walking to our cars.
“Say it, though, just to be clear.”
“You should go for it,” she says, voice casual, though her eyes darting over to mine to show her hand. “I’m serious.”
“Alice…” I sigh. “He’s myboss.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “And he was your boss at the bar, wasn’t he?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “If you hadn’t been busy, you would have prevented that.”
“Girl, no, I would not have.” Alice laughs. “I would have encouraged it.”
I crack a smile. “Okay, fair.”
Our cars are parked side by side, and she waits beside mine while I load the shopping bags.
“It’s too late for it not to affect work,” Alice says plainly. “He already made that choice, and, honey, so did you.”
I shuffle from foot to foot, nervously.
“It’s not a bad thing!” Alice says. “But it is a thing, and pretending like it isn’t won’t help.”
“We work together, he’s myboss.” I’ve said this before, but I can’t help but hope this time it’ll get through to her.
Alice throws her hands up. “Look. You like this guy. I can tell because I’ve known youforeverand pretending is not your strong suit. You’ve already fucked your boss, babe. You might as well have fun.”
I sigh. “I love you.” I kiss her forehead, and she laughs, swatting me away. “I gotta go.”
“Go havefun!” she whispers. “After work, I guess. Or! Or not!”
She’s still laughing when I close my car door. I wave to her and drive away.
Alice is ridiculous.
I can’t just…
Just because we’ve already…
The thought of it, though, keeps swirling. The whole drive back, I can just think about the idea that maybe—just maybe—Alice is right.
We’ve already done the thing that we weren’t supposed to do.Twice.Maybe giving in, just a little, isn’t so bad.
After all, if weknowwe have an outlet, we’ll be more professional at work, right?
And if anyone finds out…
