Could I? Could I really take the job and move there? Nothing’s holding me here. Well, there is one thing.
Max.
I can’t leave him, or could I? Didn’t I just tell myself to start creating that distance?
I love working for The Williamson Group. I love the friends I’ve made. This is my home. Or well, Boston is, but we aren’t in Boston anymore, and I could still talk to them and see them as much as I do now.
I can’t leave, can I?
I could start fresh…
My phone rings again, making me groan. This time, though, I see the extension for Max flash across the screen.
“What’s up?” I ask as I pick up the phone.
He’s quiet for a minute.
“Everything okay?” he asks quietly.
“I’m good. What did you need?” I know my tone is brisk, but I’m spiraling right now.
I feel like he knows about the call and is waiting for me to confess. I feel like I am cheating on him. God, I hate this.
“You were supposed to be in my office five minutes ago. You hate being late,” he tells me.
I look down at my watch and wince.
Shit, I am. I got so distracted by the phone call, and then thinking about it, I lost all track of time.
“Yeah, sorry I was on the phone. I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell him.
“Are you sure you’re okay? We can reschedule,” he tells me.
He is too kind. If only he knew why I was so distracted. I can’t tell him about this job. Not yet. Not until I’ve made my decision.
“I am. Promise. I’ll be right there,” I tell him.
Before he can ask any more questions, I hang up.
My stomach rolls with guilt. I hate hiding things from Max, but I can’t tell him.
He doesn’t need to worry.
Not yet, at least.
MAX
I hang up the phone and frown. Iris is never late. She’s the most punctual person I know.
It’s the middle of the workday, idiot. Knowing her, she got sucked into some sort of report.
I can’t help but smile as I think about the little line she gets between her eyebrows and the way she puckers her lips while she’s knee-deep in a project.
I’m sure that’s it. Besides, it’s not like what we have to talk about is important. Hell, if it were anyone else, it would have been an email.
When it comes to Iris, though, I will take every chance to spend time with her I can get. Especially if we are alone.
Iris walks into my office with a look on her face I can’t quite name.
