Ruby shoves the plate at me. "You know whatever he thinks you're hiding is way worse than what is on your phone. I don't buy the smashing-it-over-work stuff for a second."
"I was looking up something to do with my job, but there are things on my phone."
"Worth smashing your phone over?"
I make a face. "Maybe..."
Ruby's eyes narrow. "What aren't you telling me?"
Maybe I'm vulnerable, or maybe I just need a friend. But I find the floodgates opening, and everything about Alex—the flirting that has turned into some kind of kinky game of dare, the sexts, and how it is all on my phone—fills my mind. The last thing I need is my boss seeing any of that.
Ruby grins. "Who knew you were such a closet whore? I love it. Go, girl."
"I'm not."
"Just be careful. This Alex might seem great, but really you don't know him, and he is a stranger. He could be anyone. What if he is fat, bald, and sixty, and lives in his mom's basement in Jersey?" Ruby shudders.
"They probably have twenty cats and a hoarding problem," Ruby adds.
"Nothing wrong with cats."
"Twenty of them?" She stares at me.
"I will be careful, I promise." And I did reverse image search the sexy selfie, just to be sure. But I keep that to myself.
The waitress comes over and hands me a note.
"For fuck's sake," I mutter.
"Who's it from?"
"Fucking Enzo. My lunch break was over five minutes ago, and perhaps I need a watch." Then I narrow my eyes. "How the hell did he know I'm here? Is he having me followed?"
Ruby rolls her eyes. "You left a note on my desk, remember? And this is the closest affordable café to work."
"What is he, the Gestapo?"
"Maybe he likes you."
"Hardly." My eyes roll.
"What's it like working for him? Are you distracted by how sexy he is?"
I laugh. "Horrible, and not at all."
"Uh huh. You don't have to get along to want to jump someone's bones. He's hot as well, and you know it. I can see you're attracted. After all, you're breathing."
I get to my feet. "Ugh, I better get back before the whips and chains come out."
"Kinky."
I give her a sour look. "Please. You know what I mean. I will call you, okay?"
"On what, your imaginary phone?"
I don't bother answering as I put cash down and hurry back to work.
The new iPhone on my desk couldn't shock me more if it were in a pink bow and said, "from the Tooth Fairy." Though why she would be giving out phones is anyone's guess.
