I make my decision and search for my boxer briefs on the floor. Sliding out of bed, I swoop them up and dress in a hurry. The rest of my clothes are scattered across her living room. I’m about to quietly tread to the bedroom door with what I have on, but I indulge myself with another glance atSavannah, naked in bed with a sheet draped slightly above the curve of her full breasts, and her hair is splayed across her pillow.
The corner of my mouth snags up because it’s impossible not to smile at her gentle beauty.
I lean down and rest my hands on the mattress to reach her forehead where I plant the faintest of kisses.
I’m not a coward. I’m ensuring our dynamic remains attainable.
Which is why I walk away, leaving her be.
14
SAVANNAH
Asmile begins to etch on the corner of my mouth, but I can’t commit to it because there’s a dose of nerves behind it. All due to sleeping with my boss because our level of sexual tension broke, but then he was gone. I don’t know what I expected. I mean, I knew the score. It was purely physical, and we had to get it out of our systems. That’s why I shouldn’t let any part of me think otherwise.
I snap my attention back to Elodie when she passes me a lid for my coffee. We’re standing next to the table against the wall, with little packs of sugar, stir sticks, and options of spices or cocoa to add to our coffee. She managed to drop her daughter off early, and we decided to grab a quick to-go beverage from a little place around the corner that has far better coffee than our building.
“Right? Such a scandal,” she says, and it causes my stomach to tighten.
“Scandal?” That word is a little harsh. Is that what it is when the CEO’s assistant sleeps with him? Wait, how does she know about my exceptional evening in bed? Nobody isaware, because my career is due to my own hard work, not the result of sleeping with the boss, and I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.
She looks at me strangely and uses her back to open the café door. “Yeah. The Everhope Summer Festival. The battle for the winning pie. According to my parents, it’s coming down to the lemon meringue and the blueberry. Both bakers hate one another, so it could be interesting.”
Pie. Really? This is the conversation that is starting my day? I guess it’s better than the alternative. I’m not sure how this morning in the office with Julian will go.
“Oh yeah, the festival.”
“Are you heading home for it?”
I take a quick sip of my coffee, and the ratio of milk and coffee hits just right. “It’s still a while away, but yeah, probably.”
“Obviously, I’m there, as my parents will lose it if I deprive them of their granddaughter for the annual festival.”
A warm smile finds me because everything about that sentence is calming. Zero room for interpretation or negativity. Unlike the possibility of what I’m about to face.
I’m not sure yet how to play it. Disappointment or indifference. I’ll decide the moment Julian’s piercing gaze meets mine.
We continue down the sidewalk, and the coffee is kicking in. Still, I’m not very engaged in our conversation, and it has nothing to do with Elodie’s part.
She nudges my arm. “Did you get the news yet?” she coaxes me with a grimace.
She doesn’t need to explain further. “I actually looked this morning, as they released all the grades and confirmations at 6 AM.”
“Aaaand?”
In all my recent entanglements, I almost forgot about my master’s until this morning when my calendar reminded me that I had a degree to conquer.
We enter our busy building and follow the crowd to the elevators. “All passed with exceptional grades, thank you very much.” I smile proudly.
“Eeek, I’m so happy! When will you have your graduation ceremony?”
I take another drink, probably to prolong having to answer, but I have to. “I won’t. I asked them to mail me my diploma.”
“What?” she shrieks.
“I don’t want to make a big deal about it,” I answer as we wait for the elevator. “I don’t like that attention on me. It feels as though I’m… bragging. Is that the right word? I’m not sure, but I’m aware it’s crazy, and my aunt will not be pleased, but she has enough going on. It’s better that I casually slip it into conversation next time we speak.”
I glance to my side and see that my friend seems completely bewildered. “Wow, that’s a lot of nonsense for an intelligent woman. You should celebrate your big accomplishment. Nobody thinks that you’re being showy. It’s even tradition to celebrate.”
