“You can’t be serious,” I said.
“No, I guess not,” she said. “I won’t fall for you either, you know. You’re an arrogant jerk who has high opinions of yourself, with a horrible work ethic and temper issues. Plus, since when has falling in love ever brought anything but pain?”
“You think that what we have is just lust?” I asked thoughtfully. “Do you really think we could toe the line and not fall over?”
“What is there to lose?” she whispered.
“I am your boss,” I said.
“Yes, you are,” she said. “I guess, in that case, we go back to suppressing our thirst and hating each other. You don’t have to worry about me. I will find a way to rid myself of him. I managed to escape him once before. I can do it again.”
“Maybe we could try it,” I found myself saying. “Maybe we could get it out of our systems, as you say, and hope that it passes. After all, it would be nice to have a relationship that is just fun. Without any commitment. Without any strings.”
“Without any feelings?” she asked. “Without any love?”
“What do you say?” I asked. If I didn’t fall for her… If I managed to suppress my feelings for her, I wouldn’t get hurt. We would have our fun, and it would be nice to have some company. Maybe it was the alcohol talking. Maybe she was only saying all this because she’d had a fright and she was vulnerable.
“No strings attached,” she said. “I like it.”
I sat down next to her, sighing as I relaxed on the couch.
“Do we get to go out on dates?” she asked.
“Why would we need to do that?” I muttered.
“You have to woo a woman before you can sleep with her,” she said, “that’s why. No wonder you’re single. Your knowledge of women is rather weak.”
I looked at her and couldn’t believe I was giving in to her, “We can go on dates. But we have to be careful. We can’t be spotted.”
“That’s no problem,” she said. “I will disguise myself. I will put on a mustache and a suit – look – and no one would tell I am even a woman.”
She put her hair above her lip, mimicking a mustache as she wrapped my coat around herself. I found myself laughing at the silly sight and shook my head. Maybe she really would be good for me. Maybe she would bring some happiness back into my life. And it would be nice to have a friend.
Chapter 11
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Hillary Beck
Iswallowed as I thought over everything that had happened. Had I really just done that?Had I really suggested a no strings attached relationship to my own boss? Even I wouldn’t be that thick, would I?
It was the next morning, and I sat in my own apartment, gazing out of the window. He had offered me his place to stay until he could arrange a secure apartment, but I had refused. I couldn’t leave Erica alone here. I was supposed to be at work in an hour, and all I could think about was what I had said. What I had done.
Why did I suggest it?What was I thinking?
The only thing that made sense was the fact that I had been so overwhelmed at that moment, having just escaped my tormentor and been saved by Gale. I remembered how warm and soft my heart had felt towards him after that. He was my knight in shining armor.My savior.
And while it was true that he had saved me, it didn’t change that he was still my boss and a jerk. And yet, I had been so overwhelmed with emotion and so grateful to him that I had, perhaps, said the stupidest thing I have ever said.And now? Now, I was in a loveless relationship with him. Just great.
“Something has gotten you all messed up,” Erica said, stepping out of the shower. She towel-dried her hair before examining her reflection in the broken mirror.
“We have to move out,” I said to her. As much as I hated to worry about her, I had to warn her about him. She needed to know so she could be careful.
“Yeah, I agree,” she said. “I can’t take another day of the landlord shouting at us. We will save up for the next few months and find someplace new.”
“No, we need to move now,” I said.
“But we don’t have any money,” Erica said, frowning. “What’s going on?”
