“You have time to figure it all out, but for the love of everything you care about, Pierce, your brother must not find out. And you can’t continue to work together.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“You really like him.”
“More than I ever liked you.”
Lior laughs and stands, narrowing the space between us until his hands cup my face. “I will try not to take that personally.” Then he hugs me.
The warmth of his acceptance steadies me, but reality intrudes as he pulls away and returns to his desk.
“The board meeting on Friday,” I say, circling the date on his desk calendar with emphasis. “That’s our first battleground.”
“We’ll find a way through this. We always do.”
The words remind me of Thatcher’s constant optimism, of his ability to find silver linings in storms. Something must show on my face because Lior’s smile turns knowing as he adds, “I have to admit, I never expected to see you quite this…invested in someone.”
Heat rises in my cheeks again as I try to maintain composure. “Thatcher is…different,” I manage, though the word feels inadequate for everything he represents. “He makes me want to be different too.”
“Good,” Lior says. “You deserve that kind of different.”
When I return to my office, Thatcher’s desk sits empty, but his usual chaos of sticky notes and colored pens is stillpresent. The sight leaves me oddly calm as I close my office door and sink into my chair.
I don’t know how long I stare at my blank screen before the door to my office opens and Thatcher slips inside carrying a paper bag. His smile makes my chest feel fuller than it ought to be.
“You looked like you needed this,” he says quietly, holding out the bag like a peace offering. “Everything okay?”
Thatcher comes around my desk and leans against it, crossing his stretched-out legs and placing his hands on the edge of the desk. He’s close enough that I catch traces of his cologne mixing with coffee scents, and all I want is to pull him onto my lap.
“Just some complications,” I deflect. The sandwich reveals itself to be my favorite from the deli down the street. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“As you know, taking care of you is literally in my job description,” he teases, though something more serious underlies his tone. “Though I have to admit, my motivations aren’t entirely professional.”
The admission sends electricity through my whole body as Thatcher shifts closer, his hand coming up to straighten my loosened tie. The touch, innocent but loaded, makes breathing difficult as New York flashbacks threaten my composure.
“Thatcher,” I manage, though my voice has gone rough. His fingers pause on my silk tie, warmth bleeding through the expensive fabric. “We should maintain an appropriate distance at work.”
His smile carries understanding that makes my chest ache as he steps back slightly. “I know,” he says softly. “Just…wanted to make sure you’re actually okay. You seemed pretty tense when you went to Lior’s office.”
Guilt twists sharper in my stomach, but if there’s one person I can’t lie to, it’s Thatcher. Instead, I force myself to focus on the sandwich, though every bite carries the weight of things left unsaid.
“I miss New York,” he says suddenly. “Miss being able to touch you without worrying about who’s watching.”
“We knew it would be different here,” I manage. “Has to be different.”
“I should get back to work,” he says with a smile that carries a layer of resignation I don’t like but don’t know how to clear.
25
THATCHER
“Stop fussing,”Alli scolds from her perch on my bed, surrounded by discarded ties and the charcoal suit that lost tonight’s wardrobe battle. “You look perfect. Though I still think the other one has more personality.”
“Personality isn’t exactly what we’re going for tonight,” I remind her, adjusting my cufflinks for the dozenth time. The silver catches the light as I twist them nervously. “Tonight is about blending in and pretending I don't know exactly how Pierce takes his coffee or what his skin tastes like after morning showers.”
Heat rises in my cheeks at the admission, but Alli just smiles knowingly. She’s been my best friend since college, and until recently, the only person who knew about Pierce and me. Though somehow, my cousins found out.
Noah:
