I pause with my hand outreached.
Feeling like a complete fool, I pull it back slowly. “Sure. No problem.”
I make the box with neither of us saying a word to the other. You can cut the tension with a knife, not just from us. I can feel Mom and Alice watching our every move.
“Tell her I say happy birthday.” I fake a smile and pass over the box, then wave him off when he tries to pay.
His chest expands while he takes a deep breath through his nose, then hesitates in front of the counter before attempting to leave. He turns back halfway, not looking me in the eyes. “I miss you too, you know,” he mutters, then walks out without a second look.
“Are you okay?”
I jump at my mom’s words. “No.” I shake my head. “I’m not.”
Harrison
“Happy birthday.” I throw the box of pastries on the table next to Lauren’s desk and continue to my office.
I’ll properly wish her a happy birthday and give her the real present when I calm myself. I can’t handle her third degree this morning.
After I slam my door shut and sit at my desk, my door creaks open. I should have known she would barge in. “You’ve been crankier than normal all week, and then you mentioned you were stopping at the bakery. I wanted to check on you.” She pauses, looking me up and down. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head, annoyed at myself. I’m a fucking douchebag.
“Come here.” I hold out my arms and wrap her in a hug. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to deal with my shit today. Happy birthday, Lauren.”
She rubs my back, then steps back, smiling. “You pay me well to deal with your shit.”
“True. But today, you’re off the hook.” I wink.
She rolls her eyes, as usual, then goes and sits in my chair, forcing me to sit on the couch.
“How are you really, Harrison? You don’t look like yourself,” she asks, swiveling my chair.
Roughly running my hands up and down my face, I lean over, resting my elbows on my knees.
“Fucked up the ass, to put it lightly.” I laugh sarcastically.
Lauren knows all about Jules. After the date she helped me set up, she wouldn’t leave me alone until I spilled my guts, and now that I have, she’s relentless.
“How was she when you saw her this morning? I thought you were going to ask her to breakfast.”
Beautiful as always, except so fucking sad looking. “She had plans with her mom, but she had been crying, and it killed me leaving her there like that.” I take a deep break, then lean back. “Seeing her like that makes me physically ache.”
“Harrison, look at me.” Reluctantly, my attention moves toward her. “Do you love her?”
I blow out a breath, thinking about this, and shrug. “I’m falling for her hard. But the shit thing about it is I can’t go on like this anymore.”
She stops swiveling, looking at me with confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I either need to talk to Seb or completely end it with her. It’s not fair to either of us to string this along if I keep us in the dark. No matter what bullshit I said, she and I always knew, this was never casual. From day one, she was always more,always mine. But my complicated life is stopping us.”
“Option one should be your only choice. Don’t let this slip away. You said she’s amazing with Claud, and I’ve never seen you talk or act like this over a woman.”
“Claudina’s obsessed with her. If Jules was around more, in a more permanent way, I already know she’d be thrilled. A big part of me knows it would be good for her, too.”
She gets up and places her hand on my shoulder, giving me a serious look. “I think you have your answer.”
“There she is! The birthday girl,” Leo announces, and Lauren is instantly engulfing herself in his arms.
