"No, I want to read it," I argued. I beckoned her closer, not wanting the barrier of my desk between us. She came to me and I tugged her into my lap, my arms laced around her body. "My girl is wickedsmart."
"It's just a small thing," she said. "Nothing major. I was surprised they even accepted the article.I submitted it almost ayearago."
"It's completely major," I said as I skimmed the text. "I'm so proudofyou."
"More than getting here bymyself?"
"Different skill sets, different types of proud," Ireplied.
"You're the first person I showed," she said quietly, her head nestled under my chin. "Not Hartshorn or Acevedo, oranyoneelse."
"Thank you," I said, pushing back the urge to lay out my feelings like a summer picnic. I'd tell her. Soon. "I want to be the first person to hear your good news, and I want your bad news, too. All of it, Aly. I'll take it. Anything you want togiveme."
"Do you mean that? Really?"She swallowed and glanced over her shoulder to catch my eye. "You're sure you want it all…withme?"
And there it was. The reasonI love youdidn't belong in this conversation. Alex was convinced I was carrying a torch for someone. She believed it was Dorrance, and I couldn't fathom a reason to correct her since I wasn't carrying a torch for anyone. Not anymore. The history didn't matter, and I couldn't see how divesting myself of those tales would helpanything.
"Of course I mean that," I replied. My palm was flat against her backside and I rubbed in deep, deliberate circles.That type of pressure was our shorthand forI want to fuck you right now and I want it to hurt a little."I want everythingwithyou."
And then I was ready. To spank her until I'd chased the dark clouds of me wanting anyone but her away. To put my feelings for her out there. To rip off her jeans and bend her over my desk. I was ready foreverything.
"If I fuck you right now," I started, trailing my fingers over her throat, "will we need to go home and get you some new panties before the game? Or will you wear the dirty ones allnight?"
Alex laughed. "I think you knowIwant—"
"Knock,knock."
I lurched forward as Alex twisted away from me, and that resulted in her bent over my desk and my hands braced on either side of her. It looked like I was fucking her, and I was certain that was why Patrick was cursing at the ceiling and Andy's hand was pressed to her mouth. She was trying, failing to restrain alaugh.
"We weren't—it's not—we're not—shit, this isn't-isn't-isn't—fuck," I stammered. I curled my arm around Alex's waist and scraped her off the desk. She was fighting the giggles, too."Oh my fucking god. This isn't what itlookslike."
"Regardless, we're sorry to interrupt," Patrick said, his eyes still aimed at the heavens. "We were leaving and saw your lights on. Obviously, we'll never make this mistakeagain."
"Hi, I'm Andy." She crossed my office, her hand extended. "That's Patrick." She pointed over her shoulder at him. He waved without looking. "We've heard so many wonderful thingsaboutyou."
"Alex," she said. "This is reallyawkward."
"Less than you'd think," Andy replied. "Don't worryaboutit."
I cleared my throat and shot Patrick aGet the fuck out of herelook. "We have Patriots tickets tonight," I said. "We're actually on ourwayout."
"Then we won't keep you," Patrick said, noddingtoAlex.
"I'm sure we'll be seeing you again," Andy said. "You're coming to Thanksgiving,right?"
"Oh," Alex replied, sending me a confused glance over her shoulder. "I…I don't know.Maybe?"
"Good night," Patrick sang, smirking as he realized I hadn't discussed Shannon's invitation with Alex yet. I flipped him off over her head. "Andgoodluck."
I dropped my chin to her shoulder and held my breath, listening for the clang of the front door. When I finally heard it, I exhaled and dropped back into my chair, taking Alex with me. "I'm sorry about all that," I said. "My sister wants me to invite you to Thanksgiving at her house. She's having about twenty people and small baby-children, and she'd like youtocome."
Alex drew a finger over my brows and down my nose as she waded through my words. "Your sister?" she asked. "What about you? What doyouwant?"
"Of course I want you to come," I said, kissing her finger when it moved over my lips. "But my family is a complicated matter, and it's not justmyfamily at this shindig. It's Matt and Shannon's in-laws, and Will's business partner and his girlfriend, and probably some other random people who wander in off the streets. It's a whole fucking lot for me, and I don't want to drag you into it if you're notready."
It occurred to me then that—of course—Lauren would be there. And it didn't matter. Not like it used to matter. If anything, I was eager for her to meet Alex, and that was a welcomereaction.
Strange butwelcome.
