Sutton was mature enough to admit that if she didn’t have responsibilities at home, she’d stay later.
She was also mature enough to know when it was time to go.
“Thank you again,” she said as she pulled on her shoes, gesturing at the now cleaned-up table. “For dinner.”
Charlotte shrugged as she stood, stretching.
Sutton took in a deep breath and averted her gaze instead searching for her jacket. Small deflections like that made their friendship far simpler.
“It was nothing; I should thank you. Knowing that you are joining me here on Tuesdays remindsmeto have dinner.”
Sutton shook her head in exasperation. “You need to take better care of yourself, really.”
Charlotte shrugged again, smiling at Sutton softly. “I get by.”
Sutton didn’t smile back, though. Becoming Charlotte’s friend again had brought back memories: how Charlotte used to overwork herself, how she’d spend entire days living on coffee and very little else, how she refused to sleep even when she was literally sick and exhausted.
And it was very clear that with a bigger, more important job, those habits had only gotten worse.
Sutton moved to tug on her jacket before she turned to look expectantly at Charlotte, who’d returned to her desk.
Charlotte met her stare, quirking a brow. “Yes?”
“It’s time to go home,” she stated. “That includes for you.”
Both of Charlotte’s eyebrows winged up, clearly surprised. “Oh, does it?”
Sutton folded her arms, standing her ground. No, she couldn’t take care of Charlotte like a partner, but she could take care of her like a friend. “Aren’t you the one who told me you were in the office by seven thirty this morning? That’s over twelve hours ago. You already sent home Autumn and Maya, so…”
Charlotte held her gaze, leaning against her desk, and they stayed in that standoff for at least a minute before Charlotte broke.
“Fine. All right. You win.”
Sutton grinned.
“And you better not be using your home office either. You need to relax. Take a little bit of time for yourself,” she gently chided as she watched Charlotte shut down her laptop and lock some of her drawers.
Charlotte gently shook her head. “Relax, she says,” she murmured before moving to the coat closet.
Sutton had a very vivid memory in that moment, of Charlotte of old telling her about how she typically used sex as her way to de-stress, and her stomach clenched with the reminder.
But Charlotte didn’t go there. “An entire country’s future on the line,” she continued, “and she wants me to relax.”
Relieved that Charlotte hadn’t gone in the same decidedly sexual direction as her own mind, Sutton shook her head. “All right, Atlas.”
Charlotte only smiled again as she pulled out her jacket. “Can I offer you a ride?” she asked as she put her jacket on, effortlessly swishing her long hair out from getting trapped against her back with a tilt of her head, in that smooth way she had.
Sutton moved toward the door, feeling light and refreshed and justhappy, nearly answering that, yes,she would love a ride. She may have resisted, but she was still buzzing as she shook her head. “No? I think I might walk. For a bit, anyway; I’m… I’m feeling energetic. I should work some of it off before I get home.”
Before she had too much time on her hands and was in for the night, before these light and happy feelings could possibly turn anxious or overthinking.
Charlotte’s lips turned down into a look of utter contemplation before she nodded. “Perhaps a wise idea. I’m feeling energetic myself. Do you mind if I join you?”
Sutton shook her head without a second thought, that buzzing feeling lighting up brighter at the prospect. “Of course not.”
She only paused when they were outside, turning in different directions. She turned to throw Charlotte a quizzical look. “You live this way,” she said, tilting her head in the direction she’d turned to go in.
“Andyoulivethisway,” Charlotte countered, as she pointed in the directionshe’dturned to go in.
