Holly sits next to me at the table, clutching my hand in hers. “Have you told him that you’re overwhelmed? He’d help you out if he knew, boo. After what you told me about your trip to Colorado…” She sends me a knowing look.
I told Damian that our night together would stay between us, but everyone knows that means me, him, and my bestie. That’s a given, and I don’t feel bad about it. Holly was entirely unsurprised when I told her that we hooked up, giving her the highlights of the evening without a play-by-play.
She was also unsurprised when I told her that I wished it weren’t a onetime thing. Because I doubt I’ll ever find anyone who can make me feel the things Damian made me feel, and the idea that my best sexual experience is behind me is just sad.
“I’m not looking for a handout, Hols. That’s the exact opposite of what I’m trying to do,” I tell her, pulling my hand back so I can get back to work. “I signed up to take on the extra workload working with marketing, and now I have to perform. I can get it all done. I just need to work out my time management.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I saw you take a bathroom break a few hours ago. Easily can cut out those three minutes if you learned to control your bladder better,” she counters.
“I’m serious. I can do it.”
“I’mserious,” she snaps. Holly and I almost never argue, and the sharpness in her voice jolts me. “You can’t do it, babe. You’re working eighteen-hour days. You’re not sleeping, you’re barely eating.” She gestures to my long-forgotten plate, the sticky rice congealed and cold, the vegetables lying shriveled on top like they died waiting to reach their final resting place in my belly. “You never even took off your shoes, in your own damn home.”
I look down at my feet to see my short black boots are, in fact, still on.
“I can do it,” I tell her again, trying to convince myself that it’s the truth. It has to be the truth. If Damian would expect this from someone else, then I need him to know that he can expect it from me. I can’t ask him to make an exception. Especially not now. Not when it looks like I’m expecting special favors because of our time together. “I just need to figure it out.”
Tears prickle in my eyes for no real reason other than pure exhaustion.
Holly shakes her head, a deep, visceral sigh pulled from the depths of her soul as she frowns at me with disappointment.
“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’m going to bed. Get some sleep… whenever you feel like it, I guess.” She gets up and walks toward her bedroom.
“Hols, don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you, Bri. I’m worried about you.”
She’s not the only one. I’m worried about me, too. Because truth be told, I’m not sure Icando this much longer.
Chapter 23
Brielle
“Knock,knock,”Isay,tapping my knuckles on the doorframe of Damian’s office.
His back is to the door, facing the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the city of Boston. When he spins around, I see that he’s on the phone.
“Sorry,” I mouth. Clutching my laptop to my chest, I take a step back to leave him alone.
“Dad, I have to go. I have someone in my office… Yeah, Dad. No worries there. I’ve got my eye on the prize,” he says, his gaze locked on me.
I swallow down a wave of heat that creeps up my chest. I’m here for a reason, and I don’t need to be distracted by those deep brown eyes making me feel all fluttery.
He puts his phone down without saying goodbye and invites me into his office.
“Come in. To what do I owe this honor?”
“The new draft marketing piece is finished, and I wanted to run it by you,” I tell him, feigning confidence when in reality, my palms are sweating. “I also want to talk to you about something.”
Damian stands from his desk, gesturing for me to take a seat, while he strides to the door, closing us in his office.
“Good. I want to talk to you about something, too.”
“Oh, sure. You can go first,” I tell him.
“Why don’t we handle the work stuff first?” he asks casually.
My heart rate kicks up when Damian doesn’t retake his seat behind the desk. Instead, he leans against the front of it, crossing his ankles and his arms simultaneously.
