“Yeah? Okay, great. I’ll come by before eight.”
He looked so happy.
I wanted him to always look that happy.
I knew I was playing with fire here, and this job was really important to me, but I’d read the employee manual back to front.
Friendships between employees were not only allowed, but they wereencouraged.Romantic relationships were forbidden, especially between superiors and their subordinates, but that was fine.
If Jay was desperate enough for connection that he was trying to get to knowme,he was clearly in need of a friend.
I wanted to be that for him.
I just needed to do a better job at keeping things professional.
Whatever had just happened on the couch was probably a fluke. I still didn’t find it believable that someone as hot as Jay could actually be attracted to me. He was just looking for human connection, and some wires got crossed.
I blamed Stardew and the little romantic relationship arc I’d been working on with Shane before things turned south.
Yeah. It was because of Stardew.
Those damn little pixels were just too damn cute.
The decision solidified in my mind, and I felt my heart skip a beat as I made up my mind.
It was final.
Friends wereallowed.
We couldbefriends. I just had to make sure I didn’t let my personal feelings for him get in the way.
I could do that.
Right?
NOVA woke me up again the next morning, informing me that Jay was waiting outside. I felt much less frantic this time, and a little more excited.
I couldn’t get the look on his face out of my head.
When I’d almost turned him down, he’d really looked like I was tearing his heart out of his chest, and I was eager to see him again and make it up to him.
When I opened the door, I sighed in relief to find him smiling at me in his usual good-natured way, with another bag that smelled like heaven and two fresh coffees.
“Morning, Milo,” he said, his cheeks turning slightly pink as he handed me the tray of coffees. “Got you a latte this time.”
“Thanks,” I said, accepting the coffee and moving aside so he could come in.
Today’s meal consisted of breakfast sandwiches on freshly baked everything bagels, and Jay helped himself to plates like he did the day before.
I set the coffees down on the island before choosing the cup that said‘Milo <3’on it and taking a sip.
Damn.
He was right. The lattesweregood.
“This is delicious.” I hummed, taking another tasty sip, and Jay beamed.
“Yeah? You like it?”
