He grunted. “Don’t push it.”
“What timeline have we slipped into?”
“One where we can get along, hopefully.”
Hopefully was what had my eyes meeting his, finding them the lightest shade of brown I'd ever seen. Like looking into a dying fire. And like he felt me watching the embers fly away, he squeezed them closed.
His jaw flexed like he regretted letting it slip, like he wanted to snatch it back before I could make fun of him. Before I could say anything his eyes flicked back to mine, guarded now. “Come on, let’s get back to the house and what do you say we make a plan on how to keep you safe without also killing each other?”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
After giving me one last look, letting me spot the millionth colour that managed to swirl between his eyes, he started the car.
As I buckled my seatbelt, a lightbulb went off in my head. “Before I forget, if I’m apologising to your guy about the hair thing, I think you might want to do the same with Finn. I thought he was close to passing out when you pulled us over.”
Slowly, he turned his head to me, a soft smile gracing his lips. “I promise, Cora.”
chapter eleven
baby steps
Iwalked back into Research, anticipation knotting in my stomach. “Anything?”
Oscar simply threw his head back far enough that he was seeing me upside down. And even from that angle, I could see the bags under his eyes that had become permanent features since trying to crack the data breaches. “If we had anything, do you think I’d be here right now?”
I shrugged, my mouth tugging. “Fair point.”
We’d had two more breaches since losing the Alcott files.
That phone call went down a treat, let me tell you. It was so bad that several news outlets had already sniffed out a story that did nothing for the new clientele we were seeking. I say “sniffed.” Whoever was doing this probably tipped them off.
But even as I said that over my head, I still couldn’t make sense of it. We’d had attempted takedowns before, but every time we’d figured out who was doing it within an hour, and never had it leaked to the press.
Fuck.
It was just going to be one of those days. I could feel it.
I sank into the room, letting my feet drag me to the chair beside Oscar, sinking into it as my elbows planted on the desk, my face in my palms.
“Ever the morning person.” Oscar snorted from beside me, before groaning as he stretched.
“I just haven’t had coffee.” I leaned my back against the chair, folding my arms. “I might need a double.”
Oscar huffed, clicking the mouse I’m surprised hadn’t fused to his hand. “Risky move. You’ve got that meeting with Amber this afternoon, and I’ve lived with you long enough to know what too much coffee does to you—”
“Shut up.”
He grunted a laugh I was surprised he had the energy to grunt. “I’m just trying to save you from even more embarrassment this week.”
I turned to him, my face stony. “Do you like working here?”
“No.” He flashed his shit-eating grin that looked an awful lot like mine.
“Alright then. Do you like your current salary?”
I swear I saw him lose a little colour in his face. “Maybe.”
My eyes rolled as I sat back, touslling his hair as a laugh slipped from him. Giving each other shit had just been something Oscar and I had always done, to the point where I’m sure I was flipping off his sonogram when Mamá told me I was having a brother. But this job wouldn’t be doable without him. Hell, this company wouldn’t exist if he hadn’t been there, pushing me to never give up, reminding me of what it meant to both of us.
