His eyes light up with agreement.
It took three minutes for us to agree that neither one of us seemed to have an appetite. We asked for the food to be packed up.
For now, nerves made us full enough.
It’sbest that I pick up Lola and head straight home to ensure everything at home is ready by 4pm. Hence, I’m at my desk in my office and closing down for the day. My office is most definitely not a corner office. It’s small but still has a large window with a view of the skyline.
Blair, my colleague, who spends her lunchtimes eating salad and redoing her makeup, stalls mid-pass by my door. “Have you heard?”
Glancing up as I zip my purse, I see her with her dark pink nails holding her routine afternoon bottle of sparkling water. “What?”
“People saw Hayes Callahan around the office this morning. For sure, they are announcing tomorrow that he’s the new COO. How lucky are we? Have you seen him? Heard he’s single, too.”
I stall as I’m about to swing the strap of my purse over my shoulder. “Maybe.” Something is brewing inside me. Concern for what the office will think, the reminder that even at work, Hayes and I will cross paths, and a bit of possessiveness that Blair needs to keep her claws away from him. Because yes, I’ve seen him, and my body hasn’t forgotten him, either.
“Hopefully. Anyhow, where are you heading? I saw that our one-on-one has changed times.” She spots the paper doggy bags. “Whoa, did you go out for lunch to that new spot? Heard they book out for weeks.”
I continue my quest to leave. “Yeah, sorry. Lola is sick, and I need to take her home,” I lie and choose to bypass the answer about the restaurant.
“Oh, hope the little squirt feels better.”
“Thanks,” I say and speed past her. I cruise through the hallway and straight to the corner office, where Foster’s door is open. I’m lucky that we have a good rapport, so this only feels 75% awkward instead of 100%.
Knocking softly on the door pane, he glances up from his desk only to do a double take. His crooked smile appears strained.
“Sorry to disappear, but I need to go.”
“Yeah. No worries.” He appears equal parts understanding and in an awkward position.
I roll my eyes because I don’t need to explain further. Because Hayes already went above me to tell him I’m taking off. “I will sort something out so this doesn’t become a thing. Just need to establish some…” How do I phrase this correctly, but I give up. “Foster, this is…” I try again, only to blow out a raspberry and quickly glance to the sky for a miracle.
“A little crazy,” he supplies.
“Yeah,” I agree.
“Go. See you tomorrow.” He reassures me with a sympathetic expression on his face.
But as I turn to leave, I stop mid-pivot and look back at him. “Can I ask you something not office-related?”
“Always.”
The last 72 hours have already been spinning enough that I might as well get it all out. “You know Hayes better than I do. Even if he isn’t, can you just tell me he’s a good guy? I need to hear that.”
Foster’s mouth stretches into a warm, closed smile. “No need to lie to you. He’s a good guy. Stubborn but a good guy.”
I breathe easy and let it be.
Two hours later,my heart is racing. Lola woke from her afternoon nap a while ago. I fixed her pigtails, and now she’s happily playing with her tea set, completely oblivious to how the doorman phoning to announce Hayes's arrival is life-changing.
I’m lucky, we live in a nice building, though by no means extravagant. Our two-bedroom apartment is in a new and secure building. Probably not even a quarter the size of Hayes’s new place, but we have enough space for us, and the building's elevator has been a gift that keeps on giving for the stroller hassle.
I scanned the living room and spent a solid 20 minutes cleaning up. I’m not sure Hayes would be judgmental, but Iwant to ensure he has the right impression.Simply, that Lola and I are fine.
Walking to the door, I shake my hands, attempting to rid myself of nervous energy, but it fails. Slowly I open the door, waiting for him to appear from the elevator, and the moment he does, my body jolts.
Hayes holds a bouquet of peach-colored roses in one hand and a stuffed bunny with a pink balloon.
I race to him and start to claw the balloon. “You have to get rid of that.”
