My laugh turns to a very unladylike snort when I try to stifle it.
That would be a point for him. Damn it.
Finn crosses his arms like he’s preparing for battle. “I need to speak with Eleanor. I could already be done with that if I hadn’t had to wait for you two to finish talking.”
I fold my arms over my chest to match him and meet his eyes. Having to crane my neck to look at him probably makes me less intimidating than I’d hoped, but I mirror his facial expression and body language anyway. “Oh, please. Do forgive uswomenfor beingfriendlyto each other and asking about our weekends. Not everyone can barge through the doors like Kylo Ren, with a cape floating behind them, and glower at every person who crosses their path.”
This time, he has to bite both lips to hide his amusement, but I still get a peek at it. “Have you been watching me walk in every morning?” He tilts his head and arches an eyebrow.
I choke on my breath, and I hate that this is another point for him in a battle he’s unaware of.
A few people shuffle past us to start their workday, quiet murmurs echoing through the wide halls of the museum, but our eyes stay pinned on each other. We are two opposing officers waiting for surrender or blood.
His gaze drops to my mouth for one small blip before it snaps back up. “May I speak to Eleanor now, or do you all need to continue analyzing how handsome the duke is?”
I guess it’s blood, then.
A growl sneaks out of me, and I clench my fists like a toddler, feeling no shame in it. I don’t know who pissed in his Cheerios this morning, but he should be taking it out on them instead of me.
“Absolutely. Be my guest,” I grind out through clenched teeth, waving him forward.
He bends to grab my coffee cup and gives me a crisp nod before stepping past me to Eleanor’s desk.
***
This hand dryer is no help. My green dress still has a dark stain running over it.
Anxiety fills my stomach with a familiar queasiness, dissolving the courage I had built up for this meeting. How can I be taken seriously looking like a barista’s hand towel?
The minimal confidence I’d had is now in a puddle of coffee on the floor.
I look back at my reflection and groan at the sight of my cheeks, which are still pink from my run-in with Finn.
Every time I have been in the vicinity of that man, I’ve left wondering what the hell I did to deserve the looks he directed my way. During my first week at the museum, I held the elevator for him while he stalked toward it looking at his phone. When he finally glanced up, his navy eyes searched my face and the empty elevator behind me.
He stepped back with a scowl and mumbled, “I’ll get the next one.”
A few weeks later, Calvin and I were in his office going through plant orders for the butterfly vivarium, when in walked Dr. Black Hole with another scowl. He adjusted his glasses and glared my way. “I need to speak with Calvin privately,” he said, his attention dropping to his phone while I picked up my things. I had to turn sideways to slide past him in the doorway while he stood there like a statue, unable to move out of my way.
As the memories flood my mind, I have the sudden urge to curse him. He deserves some retaliation for the way he’s made me feel.
Mayhiscoffee spill all over him today. May his socks get wet the next time it rains. May his window never roll all the way up, so it makes an annoying whistling sound as he drives for all eternity.
The soft knit sleeves of my sweater brush over my arms as I tug it on and button it up to cover the coffee stain. Then I inhale a deep breath and watch my cheeks deflate in the mirror.
Mustering pep talks for myself is not my strong suit. Lena is much better at finding the right words. But when I try to channelher confidence, my mind is a blank sheet of paper, with no hint of inspiration for what to fill the page with.
My phone dings with a text, and I pull it out of my bag. I click to open the message and find a crooked selfie of my mom holding a black-and-white duck in our family group chat.
Oaks Folks
Mom:Alfred says good duck today, Millie!
Mom:*It’s a pun on the word “luck.” Not an autocorrect.
Tess:That’s so ducking sweet.
Fabes:Dad is snickering from the kitchen while he reads his texts.
