My heartbeat raced, and I tugged on the collar of my polo, unbuttoning the top button and swallowing. My mouth felt like sandpaper, and my jaw hung open, attempting to process his words. I gaped at him, scrunching my brows as he rolled his eyes and slapped me on the shoulder. The brief sting jumpstarted my brain. I was glad when he opened his mouth and praying he’d change the subject.
“So, yeah. Whatever friends-with-benefits friendship you two have going on is old news. Is it like a big brother protective instinct thing? Why you can’t keep your eyes off of her?”
“Maybe.”
“Do you want things to be different?”
“I want her to stop going out with everyone who messages her in that damn app. I want her to open her damn eyes. I want—” My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth as I struggled, finally sucking in a breath and letting out one word. “Everything.”
Magnum’s mouth twitched like he was holding back a grin, but he quickly washed it away as he dragged his arm over his forehead. “Why, Miller. I do believe you’re a closet romantic.”
I didn’t respond besides attempting to return his smile, but that expression felt too tight and constricted. Magnum stared at me for several painful seconds. “What do you plan on doing about this new revelation?”
I sighed. The most important thing between us was friendship, and I wasn’t going to put my foot in my mouth and ruin it over misplaced jealousy. “I plan to continue things just as they are, and if she ever becomes interested in more, she’ll let me know.”
Magnum huffed and put his hands on his hips, rolling his eyes before barking out a harsh laugh. “And what if it takes her thebetter part of a decade and a hundred shitty dates before she comes around? Or what if she never comes around?”
I didn’t like that—I didn’t like thinking about her wading through asshole after asshole because she thought it was the only way to find a decent guy. No. That wasn’t it—or that wasn’t the only thing.What really had my boxers in a bunch was that I wasn’t a blip on her radar. Not even a sparkle in those pretty green eyes. She would rather embrace her current situation than acknowledge I was an option.
Maybe she didn’t think I was an option.
Maybe the thought of dating me was laughable.
“Then nothing changes.” I shrugged and kicked the mountain of carpet piled on the floor. “I’m not in a rush. I’m content to wait.” I shrugged like my insides weren’t twisted like a pretzel and kept my eyes focused on a spot behind his left ear.
“If you two are done braiding each other’s hair and gossiping, I have a blueprint I need a second opinion on,” Simon said, leaning against the doorframe and adjusting the cufflink on his left wrist.
“We were not gossiping,” Magnum said.
“Yeah. Listen here, you albino peacock—”
“Blah. Blah. Blah,” he said, cutting me off while adjusting the opposite cufflink. “I’m pasty with better hair and sense of style than anyone else in this office. Get some new insults, boys. Now, come on. This is going to be a big project.”
Magnum slapped me on the shoulder and shook his head as we followed Simon into his office, glad for the distraction—because his words hit a little too close to home, and I wasn’t ready to admit he might be right.
Chapter 13
“Idon’t understand whyI need a new wardrobe,” I grumbled as Marietta scoffed at a fire-engine red dress with a plunging neckline. “You realize these are supposed to be for work events, right?”
Marietta kept ignoring me, biting her lip as she went through the dozen choices the salesperson had brought over. Shedismissed me with a wave, fluffing a ruffled blue dress before taking it off the rack and laying it over one arm.
“I have plenty of dresses at home. This is ridiculous.” I stomped and clenched my fists, hoping my best friend would let this silly notion go. What was the point of new dresses? It wasn’t like the headmaster would offer me the job based on my outfit.
Of course not. Just based on your ability to maintain a relationship.
I huffed, letting my irritation bleed to the surface as Marietta sighed, the noise audible above the dulcet tones that played in the background. Even Barry Manilow couldn’t wipe the scowl off my face.
“Stop acting childish and enjoy the attention. You have a banging body, and you need to dress the part. All your cardigans and slacks need a serious upgrade.”
“There is nothing wrong with my clothes. It’s not like I could be on my feet all day wearing wrap dresses and four-inch heels. And what are you talking about? Dress the part of what, exactly?” I asked, not ready to give up on my tantrum.
“Part sexy librarian. Part competent coworker. And most of all, part bombshell.”
“You are strongly overestimating me,” I said, running my fingers over the fabric of a chic velvet dress. Marietta batted my hand away as the salesperson chuckled and shook her head, mentioning champagne as she left. I wasn’t opposed to having a glass to make this entire situation more bearable, and from the glint in Marietta’s eyes, she felt the same.
“I’m not above getting you buzzed on a random Thursday afternoon until we have at least three new dresses. Maybe heels and a lingerie set as well.”
“Three?” I hissed, my voice rising high enough for an older lady thumbing through the pantsuits to glare at us.
