Especially Oral.
Seriously, what were his parents thinking, naming him that? I’ve never met another Oral, and there’s a reason for it. He got tormented all through school until teachers switched to calling him by his middle name. Stanley is a definite upgrade, and at least it made him less of a target.
“Yeah, dude. Come and have some drinks. You can bring Jerica, or we have a couple of little hotties we could hook you up with. They’re definitely up for some fun,” Stanley says before his lip curls into a smarmy smile and he wiggles his brows.
“Not really seen you hanging with Jerica lately, so we didn’t know if shit went down between you two or not. If you’d rather chill with someone new, there will be plenty at the bar we’re heading to,” Jonathon says.
I stare at the group of them, my eyes wide as I listen to them try to hook me up with someone else. Past interactions with them fly through my head. Never once did they ask about Hayvin. They didn’t mention her. Nothing. I searched through my memories with my college colleagues and realized that only Jerica and David knew about Hayvin..
Did I really never bring her to work with me? None of the functions? None of the conversations between coworkers? Nowhere?
My body jolts, feet tangling as I stumble into the elevator wall. My briefcase slips from my grip and lands with a dullthud. In the mirror, I catch a glimpse of my pale, shaken face. My shoulders hunch, chest collapsing, stomach churning as the truth crashes over me.
They never bring her up because they don’t know she fucking exists in my life.
They thought something was going on with Jerica because that’s the impression I’ve given off to fucking everyone.
They try to hook me up with someone because they believe I’m single.
You are, that fucking insidious, taunting voice whispers in my ear, but it’s easy to ignore as I fight to keep the vomit from coming up.
How the fuck did I get here? How did I not let everyone know about the one person who means the fucking world to me?
Hell. Maybe it’s time to quit saying that, because if she were my world, then everyone would have known it. Right?
My heart screams at me that it’s a lie, that she’s bedded deep in my skin, but it’s hard to believe that when she’s some invisible party to everyone around me except my closest friends.
I brace my trembling knees and drag shaky hands over my face, wishing I could wipe away the last few weeks along with the sweat and regret.
My gut knots as I exhale every last bit of air, then inhale again. The truth still stings, but at least I’m steady enough to face my coworkers and finally do what I should have done years ago.
Clearing my throat, I glance back at them. “Much as I appreciate the offers, I’ve got a woman in my life that I’m fucking crazy about.”
This time it’s their eyes that bulge and mouths that gape.
“You mean Jerica?” Stanley smirks.
The tips of my fingers dig into my temples as I shake my head. “No. Not fucking Jerica. There’s never been anything between us.”
They all blink rapidly as they try to process what I’ve just told them.
“Then who the hell is it, man? She and Charlie are the only two women we’ve known you to really be associated with. I mean, we thought you were probably seeing someone, but we could never be sure,” Perry questions.
“You got some invisible girlfriend?” Mike jokes.
The muscles in my face contract as he hits way too close to fucking home for my liking.
“She’s not fucking invisible. Not to me. She’s the only goddamn woman I’ve seen since I met her.”
“How long are we talking here, Alek? You’ve worked with the four of us since college graduation, and this is the first we’re hearing about someone serious,” Zebulon asks in the perpetually brusque voice of his.
My gaze slides from their faces to the glowing numbers ticking down on the elevator panel. I fold my arms tight across my chest, as if I can shield myself from their silent judgment.
“Been with Hayvin for three years,” I admit.
“Wait. Is that the chick David mentioned? We thought she was just one of your hookups because you never spoke about her. So, we never connected her with your someone serious,” Perry says.
“Dude. What the absolute fuck?” Zeb growls. “You’ve been with someone for three fucking years and this is the first we’re hearing about her? Do you know how shitty that is?”
