47
Tiff
There was a decisive knock on my door, and I groaned.Who the hell was it now?This was getting ridiculous.I missed the days when only Audrey showed up at my place.
I half hoped it was Audrey when I opened the door, not expecting to be faced with Sam’s arresting eyes instead.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach.Traitors.
“Hi, Sam.”
“Jordan said you turned down the job.”
That’s why he was here?
He didn’t wait for a response.“Why didn’t you take it?You have so many options.You could go wherever you want, work anywhere.”
“I don’t want anywhere.I want to be here.I want ...”
“What, Tiffany?”
“Why are you here, Sam?”
“I … Can I come in?Or are we going to have this entire conversation in the hallway?”
“And what conversation is that?”I was being a brat, but goddammit, he was standing there, looking as handsome as ever, maybe more so because I hadn’t seen him in weeks, and I was fighting every urge I had to touch him.
“Tiffany, please.”It was as much of a plea as I’d heard from him, and my grip tightened on the door handle as my body flushed.
And how could I say no?
I let him inside.“Can I get you a drink?Water?Coffee?”
“Water is fine.”
I tried to distract myself by getting us both a glass, all too aware of him standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, a hand shoved into his pockets, the silence building between us.
“So,” I said, feeling the echo of the last time I’d started a conversation that way.
“Why didn’t you go to New York?”
“I told you, I want to stay here.My life isn’t in New York.Jordan’s offer was nice,” I ignored his huffed disagreement, “but I’m not interested.He didn’t seem to have a problem with it, so I’m not sure why you do.”
“I don’t have a problem with it,” he said, cryptic as ever.
I studied him, trying to get a read on what the hell he was doing here.He looked nervous, which probably shouldn’t have made me happy, but it was reassuring to know I wasn’t the only one.He looked stressed—no, pained—and vulnerable, and I quickly drank the entire glass of water to soothe my suddenly dry throat.
Anticipation began warring with the hope stirring within me, and I felt a strange sickness, trying to fight it back.“What do you want, Sam?”
“Quinn came to see me about the coalition.”
I’d hoped she would.“I’m glad to hear that.Are you going to be a part of it?”
“Of course.”
Jesus, this was awkward.My empty glass felt heavy in my hands, but I had nowhere to put it without moving away.So, instead, we both stood at an odd distance from each other, catching and avoiding the other’s gaze, like the world’s most uncomfortable game of chicken.My entire body felt magnetized towards him, but I held firm.It didn’t matter how willing I was to open up if he didn’t feel the same.
That said, the awkward silence was excruciating.“How are the plans for the reopening coming?”
