He’d been adamant from the beginning about the boundaries of this … fling.And as much as my first instinct was to say something, push those boundaries, ask him outright ...Well, I’d seen first hand the consequences of my impulsiveness where Sam was concerned.
In fact, ever since Sam had arrived, I’d had to face the realities of my actions.Hearing both him and Harry say to my face how I’d overstepped had definitely dented my ego, but they’d been right.And mama had taught me that kindness always started with humility.
Maybe it was time to be patient?(I hated the thought already).
I was just about to start packing the bar down and shooing Devon and Jade home so that Sam and I could get some time together when I was the one given the signal to leave.
Devon took the rag out of my hands, “Go on.You’ve earned an early night for once.”
“Early is right.It’s 2 a.m.”
“All the more reason for you to get.”
My eyes darted to Sam, where he was leaning on the door frame of his office, arms crossed over his chest, looking tired but happy.It was a good look on him.Our gaze met across the room, but Jade stepped into my line of sight before I could do anything.
“So, how did I do?”
I smiled.“Good.You’re a natural.”
“Thanks.Hey, if you’re not doing anything, we could go for a drink to celebrate?I’d love to pick your brain on a few things.”
And with a little half step towards me, it clicked.Oh.Oh.
A bubble of wild laughter threatened to emerge, but I kept it down.“That’s really flattering, but,”
“You’re seeing someone,” Jade said.
And fuck.Was I?“It’s complicated.”Word of the day, it seemed.Thanks, Theo.
Jade retracted the half step, now standing at a more casual distance, but was still smiling brightly, so I guessed she wasn’t too offended.“I get it.Maybe another time.”
This time the laugh did bubble out of me, causing Jade to ask, “What?”
“For a hot minute there, I thought you were interested in Sam.”
Her face scrunched up, but even so, there was a joy to it.She was, frankly, beautiful.In another life, I would absolutely have taken her up on her offer.“Cooper?No.I mean, I guess I can see it.He’s sweet, but not really my thing, you know?”
“Yeah.”Why did I sound so breathless all of a sudden?Thankfully, Jade just said goodnight and got to work packing up while Devon continued to push me out of the bar.
“Okay, okay.I’m going.”I hadn’t had a chance to talk to Sam, and it bothered me now that I couldn’t do so without needing to explain it to Jade and Devon.It was the first night in a long time that we weren’t going to see each other after, and it left me disappointed.
A smarter me would have gone home and let it be.
A smarter me wouldn’t have quit because she wanted to sleep with her boss in the first place.
But life was too short to always be smart.
So, I grabbed my things, said a final goodnight, and texted Sam my home address, telling him to come by when he finished.
I’d done some unexpected things in my life.Rushing ahead and facing the consequences later was just something I preferred to do.
They didn’t always work out badly, but they never worried me like this.
I’d never cared much about speaking my mind (understatement of the century) or about the consequences.Now, I cared.And I wasn’t willing to risk the consequences this time.
Because this time?
This time, I wasfeelingthings.
And that was bound to be trouble.
