He doesn’t need to elaborate; I get the picture. I’m not convinced that me and Vic are at the teasing stage yet, and I don’t want it to get awkward. “Maybe I should see if they’ve got any rooms available at the pub.” I know they have at least a couple that they rent out as guest rooms.
“Or...” Jerry hesitates, and Iknowwhat he’s about to offer. “You could stay with me.”
Even though I was expecting it, I’m still not prepared, and the silence stretches uncomfortably.
“Or not,” he adds with a huff of laughter. “I can ask Hailey for you?—”
“Sorry,” I mutter, so glad he can’t see how red my cheeks are right now. “You caught me off guard.”
“Really?” I can hear the laughter lingering in his voice. “I’ve been offering you my guest room since January. It can’t have been that much of a shock that I’ve offered it now.”
Well, when he puts it like that.
It’s just this is the first time the answer that popped into my head wasyes. No doubts, no second-guessing.That’sthe part that shocked me, not his offer. There are probably a hundredreasons why this might be a bad idea. I like Jerry, but I’m still not looking to start something with anyone new, and he’s too far away for it to ever work. Pretty sure distance was a factor for me and Sean, and I don’t want that to happen with Jerry.
We could just have sex, no strings, no expectations—fuck knows it’s been the longest time since someone else touched my cock—but I’ve never been good at that, and I don’t want to mess up our friendship. I like what we’ve got, and I don’t want to lose it because I got horny and desperate.
Of course, I’m getting way ahead of myself, because this is all assuming Jerry’s even interested in me like that anymore, which I doubt he is because he’s never even hinted at it over the past eight months or so. He’s probably just being nice.
I should still say no. Because knowing me, there’s a good chance I’ll embarrass myself and have to ignore him forever.
I shoulddefinitelysay no.
Obviously my mouth and brain are not on the same wavelength because when I open my mouth, what pops out is, “I’d love to stay with you if that’s still on offer?”
“Of course it is.” The smile in his voice is loud and clear and my belly swoops.
Oh no.
This is a terrible idea, Reed. The worst.
It’s also the most excited I’ve been about anything all year.
I’m surprised my voice sounds unaffected when I say, “Thank you. I guess I’ll see you in a few weeks, then.”
He laughs and it makes me grin. “I guess you will.”
“Reed, have you got a minute?”
I glance up at my boss, now standing in front of my desk. He’s wearing an annoyingly neutral expression that gives me no hints to what this could be about. “Now?”
“Unless you’re too busy?”
I frown. “Is that a trick question?”
He grins, relaxing me a little, and shakes his head. “You are way too suspicious. I want to discuss something with you, that’s all.”
I am busy, but obviously I won’t be able to concentrate on anything until I find out what he wants. “Now’s good,” I say, standing up.
His eyes sparkle with amusement. “Join me in my office.”
I follow him in and close the door behind me.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I sit down opposite him.
“There’s a job opportunity come up, based out of our Sheffield office.” He stares pointedly at me, and I’m embarrassed at how long it takes me to realise what he’s implying.
“Er...” My forehead scrunches in confusion. Chris has been my boss for the last two years. As far as bosses go, he’s been a great one so far and we’ve managed to become good friends. So I have no issue asking, “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
