“Here, have a seat, I have plates ready!” Emma says, directing me to the kitchen table.
Ellie hooks her arm around mine and guides me to the table, sitting right next to me. It feels like she’s shaking under my arm, but she’s warm so it’s not because she’s cold. Is shenervous?I’m the one who should be nervous. I’m having dinner with her and her family. This is more than coworker territory. I’m not upset about the closeness by any means but what does itmean? Is she just being friendly? Maybe this is how she is around all of her friends and I’m too smitten to think of it as anything but attracted affection. Because surely she isn’t interested in me . . .thatway. I am suffocating in my own feelings. Beads of sweat start to build-up on the back of my neck as I start to overthink everything I have ever done that has led me to this point in my life.
“So, how’s the kid doing? Talk to Sam today?” Steven asks, sitting across from us.
A topic to focus on, good. “He’s doing okay, Sam said he woke up with a headache and two black eyes but nothing out of the ordinary.” I shift in my seat to not lean in towards Ellie too much.
She shifts her legs toward me.What do I do?
“That’s good. Did Ms. Johnson get a hold of Devon?” Steven chuckles.
“Haven’t heard, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. I’m sure we will find out Monday.” We both laugh, as Emma pours us water.
“Honey, can you help me with the plates?” she asks Steven as she walks back to the kitchen island. He follows her and leaves me sitting with Ellie.
I glance towards her out of the corner of my eye and she does the same. I readjust to face her, setting my arm on the back of her chair. I can’t help but turn my body towards her, she’s like a magnet, pulling me in. She leans against my arm, turning her body towards me, our knees touching, jolting a shock through my body. I let out a sigh and her pupils dilate in response.
Breathtaking.
“Your eyes remind me of palm trees,” I say, staring at them.
She smiles. “Is that a good thing?”
“I think so. I love palm trees.”
Her cheeks flush and bunch up at my words. “They are pretty green aren’t they?” She tilts her head back, playfully widening her eyes and fluttering her eyelashes at me.
“Very pretty.”
I gaze over every inch of her face, mesmerized. I don’t know why but I feel the need to commit everything I see to memory. Her eyes, the little wrinkles at the corners, the faint freckles on her nose, the way her eyebrow twitches slightly when she smiles.
Attempting to be subtle fails me when my eyes drift down to her lips and linger. She’s not wearing anything on them and they're perfect. They look delicate . . . and soft . . . She bites her lip, very aware that I am staring at them. I could kiss her right now and have no regrets.
Except maybe the fact that she won't reciprocate.
And then it’s weird.
And then I’m that creepy boss who kissed his employee.
Then I’m fired.
I let out a sigh and it sounds like a whimper. Unsure how to respond, sending unease surging through my body. I need to reorient my focus so I don’t lean down and kiss her right here in the middle of her sister’s kitchen . . .
“Food’s ready!” Emma calls from the kitchen.
Thank God.
Ellie smiles and pats my knee before heading to the kitchen. I take a second, breathe in slowly, and rub the tension out of the back of my neck as I follow.
Dinner ends up being one of the best nights I’ve had outside of work—with work people—in a long time. Emma and Ellie share childhood memories and embarrassing stories. Steven and I talk about sports and my current search for an assistant football coach. It felt natural, which was interesting since Steven always seemed very closed-off every other time I’ve been around him.
About half way through the night, we migrated to their back porch and lit a fire on a fancy stone table. Their house backs up to a large wooded area, no other houses in sight. Emma and Steven started sipping wine and eventually found themselves to be a little tipsy and giggling. The realization that her boss was sitting across from her was lost when she toppled herself onto her husband's lap and planted one on him. And he didn’t seem to care that I was there either. They were so consumed with each other for a bit, I felt the need to give them some privacy. Leaning back against the couch I've been sitting on, I tilt my head up and watch the stars.
“If this makes you uncomfy, wait until they turn the music on,” Ellie's whisper comes from behind, her sweet breath tickling a soft spot on my neck. Didn't realize that was a sensitive area until now, thanks to the pulsing sensation it sent down my body.
“Just signal to me when it’s coming and I’ll fake an emergency,” I whisper.
“Emergency enough for both of us, right?”
