“The fastest,” I agree, matching his excitement.
Nico looks between us before letting out a laugh as he shakes his head. He leans forward, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek as his eyes come to me.
“I’ll just be in my office. If you need anything, have Virginia get me.”
I nod and smile as Nico walks away, looking over his shoulder to me a few times before he disappears around the corner.
“He’s worried about letting you out of his sight,” Jake says from behind me.
I turn and nod. “He’s always worried about something.”
Jake smiles in a way that I can’t quite decipher as he shakes his head.
“Not usually, just when it comes to you.”
I like that for some reason. I do my best to hide my grin at his words but it’s practically impossible.
“Want to grab a coffee or something?” Jake asks.
“Sure,” I say as I follow his lead.
He smiles and waves to a few people before we stop at the breakroom. Before us are three fancy espresso machines as well as a machine that will pre-make almost any coffee you ask for. We chat about where I grew up and where Nico and Jake grew up when a girl pops her head into the breakroom.
“Sorry to interrupt, Jake, can I borrow you really quick for this job posting?”
“Sure,” he says as he leans away from the counter. “Want to come with or chill in here?”
I tilt my head to the side, gesturing towards the boxes and boxes of donuts.
“I’ll hang with the snacks.”
He laughs and nods as he walks away with the girl. I lift the lid of one of the boxes, struggling to choose between a maple bar or a jelly filled donut before I go for the maple bar. A low chuckle sounds from a few feet away that startles me.
“Man, I was so sure you were going to go for the jelly filled. They were always your favorite,” Alec says as he begins sauntering towards me.
“Alec!” I say in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I work here now, started a bit ago now. Not like you’d know since you ghosted me.”
His tone is accusing and cold, but his face still has on that perfect smile. It unnerves me as he continues moving towards me, only stopping when we are literally toe to toe. Alec looks down at me, his head tilting like he’s waiting for me to disagree. Shit, this conversation is long overdue.
“Alec…I’m sorry. There isn’t much else I can say other than I am, truly.”
Alec’s eyes narrow slightly as if he were waiting for more before he lets out a bitter laugh.
“That’s all I get? Seriously? One lousy apology? I loved you foryears. I thought we were going to have anotherchance! I made plans withyouin mind.”
His tone grows more menacing with each word and by the end, his pleasant smile is gone, rage being the only thing left in sight.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, taking a step away from him.
He meets me, closing the distance once more. I back up again and again until my ass hits the counter. Shit.
“Sorry? For what, exactly? For leading me on? Or for being a fucking disappointing version of the girl I once knew?”
His words stab hurt inside me as he continues, resting his hands on either side of me against the counter.
“My grandma died, in case you were curious. Again, not like you were around for that. You’re never around for anything, now that I think about it. You’d float in and out of my life whenever it suited you.”
