Oh God. Shut up, Nate.
Is he blind?
Can he not see that Alfie's nostrils are flaring like a goddamn warning beacon? The USS Shitstorm has docked and is about to spit fire from Alfie’s perfect mouth.
“I’ll be okay, thanks, Nate. See you later, Dr. Adams.”
As he ushers Nate into his office, Alfie steps out, pulling the door closed before approaching me.
“He bumped into me at a café whilst I was looking at new places to live. That’s all,” I explain.
“We can talk about it later. Are you free tonight?”
“I—umm, well yes. I was just going to do some dissertation defense prep.”
He nods, looking back to the door of his office. He’s standing so close to me, I have to wonder if it’s possessive or not. He’d do better just pissing a circle around me and barking at Nate if he wants to make things crystal clear. Not to touch. Mine. But not really…despite Friday and Saturday night, things had returned to being painfully normal between us as of Monday. Although more photos were leaked on social media. One was of Alfie leaving Lottie’s house; I had somehow been photoshopped out of the image, probably in a way to sell more fake news. It looks like there’s conflict and a love triangle. There’s not even a love line, or circle, or whatever a simple two-person dynamic would be. There were just two dots, separate, unconnected, even if my dot was sort of trying to reach over to his.
Get a grip, Sinclair.
“Bring your study materials. I’ll help you.”
“To your house?” I’m confused, because there is no freaking way, my boss, Dr. Alfie Adams is inviting me into his home.
“Yes, to my house.” His throat bobs, and for a split second I swear his eyes drop down to my lips. “Miss Sinclair, confirm you’ll be there so I can go and talk to Nate about personal boundaries.”
I stare up at him, so confused with the back and forth yo-yo game we’re playing. I thought I could push Alfie to his limits, antagonize him until he acts like less of a robot, but really he’s the grandmaster and I’m just learning what all the pieces on the board are. He flip-flops like a fish on land. Does he want me? Does he care at all that my insides are so knotted I can barely breathe when I’m around him? Why does he stand so close to me I could lick up his neck? Questions that will never be answered because Alfie Adams doesn’t know what he’s doing.
“Sure, I’ll be there.”
“Good. Wear something comfy.” And with that, he strides to his office, closing the door without a backward glance.
How the hell am I going to teach a bunch of eighteen-year-olds now?
???
My class finishes up, and the unsettling feeling in my stomach increases. I don’t know why people call it butterflies in your stomach when it is clearly giant moths zooming headfirst into a lamp repeatedly.
I have everything I need with me to go to Alfie’s, so I don’t bother stopping home on the way. I’m too eager to wait. I pull up at the office, which is a detached building from Alfie’s actual house. He secured a plot of land that obscured the house from the main road, which means patients can’t see into the home. I steel myself by sucking in a lungful of cool air. I’ve never actually been inside Alfie’s house before, even after working for him for three years.
I text Lana to let her know I’ll be out for the evening, and another text comes through from Alfie. I’m right outside his house. I could just go inside and talk to him, but texting is easier. He allows himself to push the boundaries of our employer-employee relationship when I’m not standing right in front of him.
Alfie:Making dinner plans with my friends already?
Shit. I forgot to tell him Lottie and Katie added me into a girls group chat for the next dinner club and I’d offered Alfie to host.
Mia:Yes, I hope you don't mind. I said we would host? I think my southern politeness kicked in before I could think to ask you first.
Alfie:I like it. They’re all planning our wedding now - just an FYI.
I snort. Right. Alfie Adams marrying Mia Sinclair.
Me:Tell them I like a deep green and gold color scheme.
Alfie:Green and gold? You’re going to have a groomzilla on your hands. I always assumed I would elope.
Me:Elope? My mother would kill me. I want to get married in the national park surrounded by the moss.
Alfie:Noted.
