She’s got this twinkling glint in her eye as she looks up at him, and I know that sparkle all too well.
And I hate knowing he has the same effect on others. I feel a bit possessive over his attention, though I have no right to it. With what he told me at the potluck, now that he’s starting to focus on himself more, what if that includes dating? What if he meets someone he’s allowed to be with publicly? And what if it happens while he’s working for me?
At some point, I’m going to have to figure out how to be okay with seeing him with someone else. But today is not that day. Today, I have no intention of being okay with it. Today, I’m going to be irrationally jealous over the idea.
I don’t ever remember being upset at the thought of Jeremy moving on after me. Jeremy and I were married, so I suppose that idea should’ve stung, while Emmett is simply someone I’vekissed once. He’s someone I thought I couldn’t stand only a few months ago. He’s my employee.
And yet, the idea of Emmett being with someone else ties an uncomfortable knot low in my stomach that makes me feel a bit sick. And that alone is terrifying to admit.
Emmett says something and it must be the most hilarious thing to ever come out of that man’s mouth because Kelly falls forward in laughter, long hair brushing over his chest, a hand circling his forearm for balance.
When she stands up straight again, she waves him off, trying to catch her breath because she simply can’t find it in her to stop laughing at him.
Okay. Well, he’s notthatfunny.
From here I can see his back shake in a laugh as well and decide that’s about all the torture I can take for tonight. Without making it out to the dugout to visit pregame, I turn around and head for my office.
Yeah, I’m jealous.
But I’m not jealous of justher.
I’m just jealous of anyone who is not me.
I’m jealous of anyone who doesn’t have to keep up professional boundaries, because the last thing I want is to beprofessionalwith Emmett Montgomery.
The gym is mostly dark, but of course it is.
Everyone is long gone from the stadium by now, leaving me here alone. It’s the first time I’ve left my office since the game started, and I waited around in hopes of getting the place to myself.
I’m amped up. A little bit pissed off, though that’s not necessarily aimed at anyone in particular.
I’m just mad.
I’m mad at the headlines that haven’t been written yet, but will inevitably circulate regarding tomorrow’s trade.
I’m mad at our 6-4 loss tonight. I guess.
And I’m mad at Emmett, for making me like him so much. Truthfully... screw him for doing that.
I connect my music to the surround-sound speakers, turn the incline up on the treadmill, and start my evening workout with an uphill walk.
I don’t even make it a mile before the gym door opens, and through the mirror, I watch as Emmett barges in, breathing heavy and dripping sweat. It cascades down his bare torso, down his abdomen, following that same trail of dark hair that leads right to his...
Nope. Not thinking about that.
Definitely not looking in that direction either. Because again, screw him. For what? I don’t know exactly, but whatever I’m so upset about, he seems like a solid choice to direct my anger toward.
His chest rises and falls in quick succession as he attempts to steady his breathing, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to piece together he just came from a run.
As soon as he hears the music playing, he pulls out his earbud and finds me in the reflection of the mirror.
He doesn’t say hi, he just grinds his molars, allowing his jaw to tic, as if my mere presence is offensive to him tonight.
Well, right back at you, buddy.
What the hell is that about?Ididn’t do anything to deserve a cold shoulder. He’s the one who... who... well, he didn’t do anything wrong either, I suppose, but two seconds of being in the same room and he’s already annoying me.
The way he doesn’t say anything annoys me.
