Page 114 of Glitched Play

"Also correct."

"...Should I notify emergency services?"

I bury my face in the pillow to keep from laughing.

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"Witt... are you sick?"

"No."

"Kidnapped?"

"No."

“Cough twice if⁠—"

He hangs up.

I stare at him.

"You just hung up on Dara."

"She had sufficient information."

"I think you broke her."

"Temporarily."

I start laughing so hard tears sting my eyes.

"I wish I could've seen her face."

"I've seen it once before."

"And?"

"It suggested system failure."

I can’t control the burst of laughter that comes from deep inside me. “I’m glad you’re letting me see this side of you.”

He smiles but doesn’t respond, instead he says, “I need a workout and a shower. Be ready in forty-five minutes. Two Pecan Braid pastries should be here in a few minutes.”

“How did you know they’re my favorite?”

“I see you eating them at your desk at least twice a week.”

It makes me realize that I don’t know as much about Witt as he knows about me. He’s seen my resume, interviewed me, seen me with my brother and hears me on the phone to Chase, and I know next to nothing about Witt. Except he’s the baby of the family, he’s brilliant and hot as hell.

“Thank you. That was sweet of you.” I laugh again.

“You’re like Noelle. She laughs at her own jokes too,” he says as he kisses my shoulder, then my neck and finally my lips as he rolls me on top of him.

I thought this morning he would regret being with me. He’s my boss which is probably a real problem. But he’s made me feel wanted and desired even though I know it’s stressful for him to be out of his routine.

Three hours later, we’re driving downtown in his matte-black SUV with blacked-out windows. His schedule is wrecked, entirely because of me, but apparently privacy is the one routine Witt refuses to compromise.