“I’ve been told.” I pulled back, and the smile slid from my face as I spotted Brock, jaw tight and mouth pressed in a firm line, leaning against the weight room door. I did nothing wrong, but the look he gave me scolded me like I stole all his money and burned down his house. “Anderson.”
His jaw ticked at my use of his last name, his voice flat. “Grace.” His gaze flicked to Logan then back to me. The twitch came back in his jaw, but before I could do anything, he barked at Logan. “Let’s go. They need us down there now.”
“Sure thing.” Logan then winked at me. “Let me know what your professor says.”
“Will do. Thanks again.” I smiled at him, feeling Brock’s eyes burn me.Shit. They walked away. I chose that moment to escape to the training room. There wouldn’t be a huge need for ice, but it was cooler in there and away from whatever the hell just happened. He dismissed me in front of some bombshell and then acts pissed for hugging Logan? Ah, I hated drama. I turned off my brain and ignored everything related to Brock until I left for class. It was a futile attempt because he entered my mind every ten minutes.
* * *
I left class,putting my headphones in for the walk back to the apartment, not feeling any better about the afternoon. Instead of overthinking it, I focused on my future. It was officially resume and application time. My phone buzzed in my hand, and the sinking feeling in my gut only increased.
Brock: I don’t know if you remember we were going to meet at the coffee shop, but I can’t tonight. Sorry.
Grace: No worries.
I clenched the phone in my hand for two seconds—jealousy did not look good on me. We hadn’t had plans to go to the coffee shop, but for the past month we’d never made plans. We just ended up doing everything together. It was fine that he was hanging out with the beautiful blonde who made his face go soft and voice get mushy. Totally fine.
The internship would be officially complete after this weekend—regardless if we made the Rose Bowl or something lesser—since Brock was going to send in my review. Not getting to see him every day was becoming my reality quicker than I was prepared for.
The thought depressed me.
More than depressed me. It made me want to cry. I tugged my jacket closer around me and walked home. Overanalyzing should go on my resume because I barely made it twenty steps before questions popped in my head.Whowas she? An old lover? An ex? A current fling?
He’d never said the words that he was single. What if he had a girlfriend? My stomach plummeted, but my brain perked up. How could he have time? He was with me almost every free second after work.
Hecouldbe a really good liar. I pulled out my phone, desperate to shut my mind off and use the awful excuse of alcohol to help with a distraction.
Grace: I need a drink, or five. You guys free?
Gilly: For a weeknight? For you? Hell yeah
Fritz: I’m with some friends but we could meet you somewhere.
Grace: Ollie’s. I’ll be drinking straight whiskey.
Gilly: Damn girl, I’ll head there now.
I quickened my pace toward the dingy bar not far from campus. It wasn’t the best or the worst bar in the campus town, but it did the job. They had whiskey specials ,and that was all my mind was focused on because Brock could do what he wanted. He could do anything. He wasn’t attached. Definitely not attached to me, his intern. Nope.
I pushed open the cracked wooden door and bee-lined toward the bar top. Turning my phone face down and on silent, I ordered a Jameson on the rocks and downed it in one gulp. The bartender widened his eyes and grabbed the green bottle again.
“Would you like another, dear?”
I nodded, pushing my glass over to him. The burn felt good, but it didn’t rid the worry and anxiety that rattled my brain. Did people feel like this all the time? The anxiety and pain and worry all combining into irrational thoughts with no solution?
He slid the drink over to me again just as the doors opened and Gilly’s voice carried. “G-Spot, you have me worried.”
I spun around and fell into her offered hug. “I’m in trouble Gil, so much trouble.”
“Money? Sex? Love? Drugs? I need more specifics.” She patted my head before hopping on the stool next to me. “For you to need whiskey on a weeknight, that’s a big deal. My bet is on your hot as hell, off-limits boss, huh?”
I closed my eyes, hoping the tighter I squeezed them the image of him and the blonde would disappear. She elbowed me, making me open them to face reality. “Yeah. A woman showed up today. Beautiful. Blonde. They hugged.”
Gilly frowned for a second before ordering a tall beer. She stared at me with her mouth twisting. I waited. I waited another minute before she finally spoke. “I have two things to express to you. Are you ready?”
I nodded, apt for her hopefully wise, helpful words.
“First, you aren’t familiar with jealousy. It’s adorable, actually.” She laughed, putting her hand on my arm. “This is what happens when people date. You get upset because guys are assholes. This worry is normal.”
