“Calder keeps changing my ringtone,” Riven mutters.
“That reminds me.” I jump up quickly, suddenly feeling very flustered despite the temperature. “I need to go. I’m supposed to be atTheValley Voiceoffice.”
I vaguely promised Devon I’d swing by, but it’s probably safer that I leave before we do something one of us may regret. If I kiss him again, I’m not sure I’d be able to stop…
“I’ll walk with you?” Riven offers.
“No need,” I squeak. “You stay and enjoy the view with your cocoa. I’ll see you soon.”
With that, I scamper away down the trail, pulse racing from our kiss, wondering whether it was a mistake. A sweet guy like Riven deserves an omega who will dote on him, not an independent omega like me who might not be able to give him what he needs. But if leaving is what’s best for everyone, then why do I feel more hollow the farther away I get?
TWENTY-TWO
Kady
As I nearTheValley Voiceoffice, I have to loosen my coat from the exertion of half-jogging down the trail path. Getting lost in my work is exactly what I need.
I climb the familiar steps, my jaw dropping when I push the door open.
The office looks completely different. The usually haphazard organized shelves are now neatly labeled and don’t look like they’re about to topple over and crush someone. All the mismatched desks are gone, new uniform ones filling the space. Even the old monitor screens that we sometimes had to hit to get them to work have been replaced with new ones that are positioned on bendy arms, making the most of the space, which is exactly what I’d have done.
“Kady!” Devon scoots out from under his new desk, outstretching his arms and twirling in his wheeled chair. “What do you think of the new office? Calder did everything himself.”
“It’s good.” I look around again. Begrudgingly, I have to admit that I’m impressed. “But I’d have gotten rid of the…” My eyes find the only thing I can take issue with—the ancient bulletin board still mounted on the wall.
“Bulletin board?” Calder’s silky voice coming from behind me makes me jump. I turn as he strolls in wearing a crisp white shirt. “Another one is already on the way. The delivery was delayed.”
“How did you even manage to fund all this?” I ask him. “Leah struggled to get us a new camera when the photography department needed one.”
Calder scrubs his face with his hand, causing his sleeve to fall and reveal a slice of his tanned, muscular forearm. “A newspaper who approached us for comment about you might have taken photographs on campus without obtaining the relevant permissions. They made a donation generous enough to cover all the renovations we needed.”
I keep my expression impassive. He did a good job, but I’m not going to boost his ego. I wonder if he fixed the heating in here too as it feels a lot warmer than usual.
“I don’t care how you got the money.” Devon spins again, legs lengthening before he taps the heels of his New Rocks together. “My lower back pain has pretty much vanished since sitting in this baby.”
“How many times have I told you about the importance of having good lumbar support?” He only rolls his eyes at my reprimand. “What was it you needed my help with?”
“Oh, that.” Devon shrugs. “Sorry, I completely spaced and forgot to text you. I got it finished already.” He checks his computer screen then sits bolt upright as a calendar reminder pops up. “Shit! I gotta bounce. I’ll see you later.”
He grabs his possessions then dashes out, leaving me and Calder alone. The office is usually quiet during the day—reporters and photographers only popping in and out during free periods, the majority preferring to come in the evening. Many of them prefer to work from a coffee shop and email theirsubmissions, but we may see them more often now that the office has had an upgrade.
“I really have talked to him about ergonomics,” I mutter as the door slams behind Devon. “I sent him videos to watch about setting up his workstation.”
“That sounds very…” he arches a brow, perching on the edge of a desk, “thorough.”
“It was.”
He doesn’t break his stare, his hazel eyes that look just like the setting sun in this light. I wish looking into them didn’t release a shot of dopamine into my bloodstream.
“I should probably look through the inbox for leads.” I stride over to my new desk, noticing that my chair seems to have extra cushiony arms compared to the others. It looks so comfortable.
Sitting down, I debate telling him about what happened with Riven. I decide not to, not wanting him to worry and because it’s Riven’s choice who he wants to tell.
“Before I forget.” He heads over to his desk, pulling my scarf out the top drawer. “You left this at our place.”
“Thank you.” I’ve been looking for it everywhere, worried that I left it on the bus. “I didn’t have the heart to tell Delilah I lost it after she took hours knitting it.”
Our fingers brush when he passes it over, sending a tingle up my arm, before the office buzzer has us jumping apart.
