But when she comes back, she just goes back to putting things away in the library and tapping a few more things into the computer before she closes up. When she stands, I look up from my book because now I’m curious about what she’s up to.
“You look nice tonight.”
“Oh. Thanks. I have a date…ish? Harper and Joss are setting me up with someone. So we’re all going to get drinks.”
My blood runs cold. It’s pretty much the last thing I expected her to say. Since when the fuck is she dating and why the fuck is Harper meddling in it? Doesn’t Harper know she’s busy?
“You have a date but Harper’s going? That didn’t end well the last time.”
“Well, like I said it’s not really a date. It’s like a setup? I don’t know. I’m nervous. Harper and Joss think we should date, but I don’t think he’s interested in me. So we’re meeting him and Xander for drinks.”
And my best fucking friend is involved in this plot? Are they serious right now? Harper and Xander are the ones who put her in my house. Shoved us together. Now they’re setting her up on dates and going with her?
“Not another guy you used to work with, I hope.”
“No. Uh, actually a guy you work with.”
“What?” The actualfuck.
“Nick Harris? He’s on the team, I guess.”
Panic wells in my chest. I don’t know where it’s coming from. Mostly from the fact that she doesn’t just look nice. She looks gorgeous. And Nick Harris isn’t Oliver or Danvers. One of the guys who would just fuck her for fun. Harris is a good guy. Went to an Ivy, smart as fuck. Exactly the kind of guy who could charm someone like Scarlett if he wanted to. And Harper wouldn’t set her up with someone who wasn’t interested. Which means my time with her is running out and I’m desperate for a time out.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea with the weather?” I suddenly remember my phone flashed an ice warning at me earlier. I didn’t think much of it at the time since we didn’t plan to leave the house most of the day, but now I’m hoping that it lived up to the hype of the brilliant red banner.
“The weather?” She looks at me skeptically.
“Said there was going to be ice.”
“Oh yeah, I saw, but it sounded like that was mostly in the foothills and at elevation. Should be fine in the city.”
“Spitfire, we’re outside the city here.”
“Oh. Right. Shit… I haven’t looked outside.” She hurries over to the window, and I follow her.
My heart buoys at the sight of a slick sheet of ice across the pool deck.
“Fuck,” she mutters, grabbing her phone and pulling it out. “I’ll have to text Harper. I should probably leave now. It’ll take me a while just to get back closer to the city through this.”
“You can’t go out in this. You definitely can’t drive in it.” I look at her like she’s lost her mind.
“I’ll be careful and take my time. I’ll just have to go now.” She taps out a message to Harper and then hurries to grab her purse. Then she stops abruptly and looks back at me. “Dinner. Shit. Your trainer gave me some back up meals for you, and I froze them. Do you think you could reheat one of them tonight?”
I want to say no. I want to force the issue to make her stay here with me and tell her she can’t leave until she does her job. But then I’m a fucking asshole for no good reason. So I nod my yes.
This is it, I guess. Me sitting at home eating a reheated frozen meal while I watch my unicorn get dressed up to go out to drinks with my fucking teammate. A thing I’m going to fucking ask Xander about the second she’s out the door.
It was coming eventually. I knew it. But I always thought I’d have more warning and time to prepare when it happened. Now I’ve had literally minutes to adjust to the idea and all I feel is the beating of my heart in my chest, rapidly picking up its pace like I’m about to have a panic attack.
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow then. Have a good night.”
“Be careful out there. The driveway when it’s icy is a nightmare and so is the road to get out of the neighborhood. It’s uphill there, and you could slide back,” I warn her because I got stuck on it last winter and had to have a tow truck come help. I wouldn’t even be able to get to her if that happened now.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with ice before.” She gives me a look like I’m overreacting.
A few moments later after she’s gathered the rest of her stuff, I’m watching her walk out the door.
“Scarlett?” I call after her, and she turns around to look at me.
