Liv
I’m going to explode out of my skin. Being in such proximity to Hayes all day has fried my nerves, and I am close to jumping out of the car before he’s even made it up my street.
He didn’t catch me going to the bathroom earlier. The moment he walked out of my office to go check the parking lot, I sprinted to the sink to splash cold water on my face.
I felt like I was suffocating.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to pretend that being near him isn’t painful when he acts like there isn’t anything strange about this.
“Your phone is ringing,” he utters, pulling up my driveway.
I have it on silent, resting on the center console, but Elliot’s name is displayed on the screen. Dread twists my stomach.
“I’ll call him back late–”
“Someone’s here,” he interrupts, and my head snaps forward.
I’m going to be sick. “That’s Elliot’s car.”
“Were you expecting him?” He asks dully.
“No, it must be a surprise.”
“How thoughtful.” His voice is nowhere close to sincere. He starts to get out of the SUV at the same time I do, but I try to stop him.
“Please, don’t.”
“Why?” He gets out anyway.
“Liv?” Elliot gets out of his car, and we’re suddenly standing in an awkward triangle in my driveway.
“Elliot, this is Jensen.”
“Hayes,” he introduces himself, offering his hand to shake. The moment their palms touch, electricity zaps me. My old life and my new life were never meant to merge.
“Friend from work?” Elliot asks me. There’s no recognition because I’ve never told him about Jensen.
There’s also no accusation in his tone about me being with another man because he would never suspect I’d be cheating on him. He’s not the jealous type.
Hayes looks at me, waiting for my response, and both their gazes on me is suddenly too much. “I’m sorry, I need to go take my shoes off, they’re killing my feet.”
“Hayes, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I glance at him as I walk past, and he holds my focus until I’m forced to look away.
“Yes, boss.”
As soon as I’m in the front door, I slip my shoes off and fall backward onto the couch, propping my legs over the arm while I rub my head.
“Something wrong with your car?” Elliot asks from the kitchen, making himself at home and pouring himself a glass of scotch. It’s not my preference, but I always keep a bottle in stock for him.
“No.” I sigh, preparing myself for more truths to be forced out of me. “Someone has been leaving me creepy gifts. Hayesoffered to shuttle me to and from work until we find out who it is.”
“Anything good?” He scoffs into his glass.
“What?”
“Are the gifts any good?” He laughs to himself, and I roll my head back to look at the ceiling.
I never expected him to be alpha-asshole protective about it, but he doesn’t seem to be concerned at all. Not like Hayes was.
