I squeezed my eyes shut and felt hot tears soak my eyelashes. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to put on more concealer. The altitude had sucked all the moisture from my skin, making it impossible to blend. I looked like a member of Cirque du Soleil.
I wondered if Charlie had gone back to his room. The idea of him seeing me in a hot tub with Leo made my stomach hurt.
I just needed to participate and be done with it.
Minutes later, I planted myself awkwardly on the edge of the hot tub. It looked like Leo was holding court, and for a split second I wondered if he’d forgotten about me.
I turned around to grab the water bottle behind me.
“It’s a bad idea,” Leo said, hoisting himself up next to me.
“What is?”
“Getting involved with the person you share an office with.”
I laughed nervously. “Not sure what you mean. We’re just friends.”
He traced figure eights in the bubbling water. “I’ve been around a long time. I know an office romance when I see one. And it’s just not a good idea. People always find out, and somehow you get taken less seriously.”
I wished I was drunk enough not to read between the lines.
“It’s not what you think,” I repeated halfheartedly.
There was no way he believed me.
“Look. You have a bright future here, Sam. Sky’s-the-limit type of future. Just trust me. It’s not worth it.”
I took another sip of water to stall. I hated thinking he was partly right. Had I really gone scorched earth on my entire life just to throw it all away on an office romance?
We were interrupted by a fratty senior associate parading around a bucket of Bud Lights. Water splashed everywhere. Leo took a towel and delicately wiped water off my face. He passed me a Bud Light.
I was finally recreating the college experience I never had, stuck at a frat party with no exit in sight. I felt asphyxiated by the steam and drunker by the second. If I didn’t focus on breathing in and out, I was going to pass out.
I tried thinking of coherent excuses to call it a night. All I kept thinking was if I left, he would know I was going to Charlie.
“Bar’s closed,” someone announced. A lifeline. I realized people were getting out of the hot tub, toweling off, trickling out.
“I should get some sleep,” I mumbled to Leo, putting my dress on without bothering to dry my legs or feet. I scanned the ground for my heels, nearly falling backward into the hot tub as I tried putting them on.
“Whoa there, you okay?” Leo steadied me, his arm cradling my waist.
“I’ll be fine.”
He smiled. “C’mon, I’ll help you back to your room. Elevator’s this way.”
I gripped my bag. Charlie’s room was in the same building as mine. Once Leo dropped me off, I could wait a few minutes and then find Charlie.
We reached the elevator, and I untangled myself from Leo’s arm, leaning against the wall to steady myself.
Before the doors closed, I looked up and saw Charlie.
Chapter Forty
“This isn’t my building,” I said as the elevator doors closed, a hint of panic in my voice.
Even drunk, I knew Leo was standing too close.
“You’re not in any shape to find your way back. This place is a maze. You can post up in my room for a bit.”
