“I thought we could be friends.”
“You’re the CMTRO.”
“So? I can’t have friends because I’m C-level?” His brow creased as if he was confused why I was having an issue with this.
“It just feels… strange. I just started here. I’m a nobody.”
His expression darkened, and he pursed his lips.
“You’re not anobody,Milo. Please don’t talk about my friend like that.” He glanced down at my untouched cinnamon bun and waved his hand at my plate. “Eat.”
It came out like an order, and heat curled low in my gut at the sudden authority in his tone.
“Uhm, okay.” I cut off a small piece and shoved a bite into my mouth. Warm ooey gooey cinnamon goodness exploded on my tongue, and I groaned involuntarily, rolling my head back in ecstasy.
“Mmphh, that’s good,” I moaned softly, and Jay licked his lips, his expression taking on that strange look he’d had the other day when he’d stroked my hair in the surgical chair.
“I knew you would like it,” he murmured, his voice low and soft. He was staring at my mouth in a way that made me feel like I probably had frosting all over my face, so I hastily grabbed a napkin to wipe it off.
“Yeah, this is amazing. Thank you,” I said, being fully serious. “But I still don’t get why you’re interested in being friends with me. No one ever is.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Jay said. His previously soft tone darkened. He sounded almostangryat the thought of no one wanting to be my friend. It was… nice.
“Well, believe it. No one wants to be friends with Murphquake… or risk getting swept up inMurphy’s Law.”
Jay narrowed his eyes. He reached across the counter and laid a warm hand on top of mine, causing me to pause before taking my next bite.
Electricity sparked between us, and the air felt thick enough to choke on.
“Look at me,” he ordered, and I did, suddenly unable to look away from his handsome face.
“If anyone ever calls you that while you’re here, I want you to tell me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Mr. Reynolds?—”
“Jay,”
“Okay,Jay,snitching people out to the head of the department isn’t going to do me any favors. Trust me. It’ll only make it worse.”
He raised an eyebrow, and without looking away, he addressed my AI.
“NOVA?”
“Yes, Mr. Reynolds?”
“If anyone calls Milo either of those things, I want you to notify me, please.”
“Of course, Mr. Reynolds.”
I scowled at him. “So NOVA can call you Mr. Reynolds, but I can’t?”
“NOVA isn’t my friend.”
“Rude,” NOVA scoffed, but Jay ignored her.
I almost saidneither am I,but stopped myself. It didn’t seem like a good idea to keep rejecting the head of the department’s offer of friendship, no matter how uncomfortable it was making me.
