I wasnervous. Fuckingnervous.
There were two logo designs on the boards, though neither for Arrow. I leaned over her shoulder, able to smell the rose scent of her shampoo as I did, and I made myself consider the sketches in front of me rather than the magnetism of her body.
“Left,” I decided.
“Great. That’s the one I was leaning toward as well.” She moved to her desk and sat the boards atop it, then turned and leaned her hips against it, arms crossing over her chest. “How have you been?” she asked.
“Heartbroken,” I answered, and her lips flinched like she might smile again.
“Poor Cupid alone in his top-floor condo, tiring of the sound of ocean waves in the background?” she bantered.
My chest swelled at the fact that she was joking with me.
Fuck, I was a goner for her.
“It’s the bed,” I replied. “Too big. Too soft. Too comfortable. Makes it hard to get up in the mornings.”
“That’s why I usually sleep on the couch,” she said. “Something about that middle bar in a decorative couch that hits across your back keeps you awake.”
“No idea why, though,” I said, smiling.
“None. It’s such a mystery,” she said with a soft chuckle.
The brightness in her eyes faded just noticeably as I stared at her for a beat, and I realized why they were so bright. They were glistening. Around them was the slightest smudge of mascara, a pink twinge on her nose and eyelids. She had been crying, and the thought of her sobbing alone made my fist curl.
Chloe cleared her throat and pushed off the desk. “One of my designers has a few other examples to show you regarding verbiage placement on the social post templates. How long do you have before you need to return to your office?”
“I can stay as long as you need me,” I told her.
She shuffled a couple of papers. “Sarah should be in in a few minutes. She had an appointment this morning, so she’s running a little late, if you can stay to look at what she has for you.”
I chanced a touch on her elbow, hoping she would talk to me about what was on her mind. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“Ah… yeah,” she said, running a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Her eyes closed as she wiped her face, almost like she was trying to wake herself up. “I haven’t gotten much sleep the past few weeks.”
“Everything alright at home?”
“Why, are you hoping it isn’t?” she blurted.
She cursed under her breath the moment the words escaped her, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “Fuck. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Yes, I did,” I said.
A small smile slipped onto her lips. “Yeah, you did,” she said. She glanced toward the elevator then and gave an upward nod to the crowd exiting the doors. “There’s Sarah. I’ll let Jasmine know you’re coming over to look at what she has.” Her finger pressed onto the phone on her desk, and Jasmine answered.
“Hey Jasmine, can you let Sarah know Gavin is coming to look at those templates in a few minutes? She just needs to show them to him.”
“Will do,” Jasmine answered.
The phone clicked, and Chloe looked back up at me. “What are your plans for the day?”
“No plans,” he said. “I’ve already had the hardest part this morning. Wanted to get it over with.”
“What was that?”
“Breakfast with my mother,” I answered.
“Is that so…” Her voice trailed like she was remembering something. “Wait, when you say your mother, you mean…” She raised a poignant brow, and I chuckled under my breath.
