“Thanks,” I murmured. Flynn’s hands dropped from my hair and fell on my shoulders, his fingers pressing into my skin.
He leaned down ever so slowly and kissed the side of my neck. Goose flesh spread at the innocent touch. “They’re stupid if they don’t hire you. You’re pretty and smart and the best person I know,” he said, his breath hot on my skin.
“You’re a bit biased,” I chuckled.
Flynn kissed my neck again before stepping backwards, putting space between us. I felt cold and alone again. “It’s the truth,” he replied emphatically, clearly ready to argue if need be.
I ran the brush through my hair one last time before dropping it on the dresser. I couldn’t obsess any more about my appearance otherwise I was going to be late. Flynn had a late class and wouldn’t be heading to work for another hour.
He handed me my coffee mug, which I accepted with a thanks. “You’re nervous,” Flynn commented.
“What gave me away?” I quipped, arching my eyebrow.
“Your armpits are wet,” he said, indicating the patch of sweat that was already noticeable on my shirt.
“Wow, thanks for pointing that out,” I laughed, shaking my head. I hurried into the bathroom to put on more deodorant.
“I shouldn’t have said that. That was rude right?” he asked, following me.
I straightened my shirt and glanced at his reflection in the mirror, our eyes meeting. “Well, yeah, it was blunt, but I’d prefer you to be honest with me than just tell me what I want to hear.”
“And what would you want to hear?” he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“That I look calm and collected. That I’ll get this job with no problems. That I have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Flynn frowned. “But you should be worried. I’d be nervous. I can’t tell you not to be. And I don’t know if you’ll get the job. I’m not the one doing the hiring.”
I leaned up on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss on his downturned mouth. “You don’t ever need to tell me anything but the truth,” I assured him.
Flynn wrapped his arms around me, crushing me against his chest and kissed me roughly. I loved it when he took charge like this. And as much as I wanted to fall into him, I had to leave for my interview.
I reluctantly extracted myself from his grasp and squeezed his hands. “I’ll come by the college afterwards. Maybe we can have lunch together,” I suggested.
Flynn started chewing on his lip, a new tell that he was anxious about something. “I only made one chicken salad sandwich. Do you want me to make one for you? If I do, then I won’t be able to take Murphy on his twenty-minute walk. I’ll have to cut it short and then he won’t get his proper exercise.”
“I’ll pick something up for myself. You don’t need to make me anything,” I declared.
He visibly relaxed. “Okay. That’s good. I don’t want Murphy to not get his exercise. He gets hyper if he doesn’t.”
I walked out of the bathroom, Flynn right behind me. “We definitely don’t want Murphy to get any more hyper,” I said, rubbing the dog’s head on my way out of the room.
I grabbed my purse and car keys and turned to give Flynn one more kiss.
“Leonard always tells me to take deep breaths and go to a happy place when I’m nervous or worried,” Flynn suggested.
“Okay. Deep breaths and a happy place,” I nodded my head, slinging my purse on my shoulder.
“What’s your happy place?” I asked before leaving, genuinely curious.
Flynn smiled. His lips curving upward, soft and sweet. He looked at me through his lashes and my heart melted into a puddle at my feet.
“With you,” he answered.
**
“Miss McCallum, it’s nice to see you again,” Wilma the gloomy receptionist said after I arrived at Lambert and Associates. Her words were at odds with her droopy mouth and pissed off expression.
“Thank you, it’s nice to see you again as well,” I replied, giving myself an inner fist pump for remembering basic social skills.
