Page 65 of Matteo

I have other questions, but Alex gives me a vibe like he doesn’t want to talk about it. He doesn't do personal conversations. With him, it's always about work. He keeps himself to himself. He's a single, no partner as far as I know, and no family to speak of, though he dotes on his sister and his niece.

Sometimes I get the feeling that the company is the closest thing he has to a family of his own.

“Well, let me know if there's anything you need,” I offer, because he’s a prized employee, so if he needs more time off, or anything, it’s his.

“Will do. Thanks. Everything okay with you?”

“Uh … yeah.”

“In other news ...” Alex eyes me like a conspirator. I'm wondering if he's come across more technical issues I need to worry about. I don’t have the headspace to deal with any of that.

“Yeah,” I say, my hands resting on my armrests.

“Sonny got engaged.”

I relax. “He did? Hell. I didn't even know he was seeing anyone.” Sonny's a dark horse, come to think of it. I don't know much about his life outside of work, but he’s a clever guy, and a great asset to the team.

Alex shifts in his seat. “He's been keeping it quiet. I didn't know he was seeing anyone either.”

“How did you find out?”

“Overheard him on the phone. When I pressed him further he told me he proposed.” Alex winks. “We're all going for drinks tonight to celebrate.”

“We are?”

“Yeah.”

“Does Sonny know about this?”

“He does now.”

I grin. “Nice.”

“Elizabeth’s coming too.”

Oh, hell.

***

The tech lab empties and I tell Alex I'll be along later.

An arrow of jealousy darts through me as I see all the guys leave.

With Elizabeth.

It's not just the senior tech leads, every other hot-blooded guy is going. I look away. I don't even want to go. I didn't realize Sonny was so popular. But the thought of Elizabeth, the only woman in our midst, sitting with them all irritates me more than it should.

I don't like it.

I don't like that I don't like it.

Why the fuck am I wasting my time thinking about it?

I try to get back to work, but a few seconds later I throw my pen down in frustration, and press my face into my hands.

I can’t stop thinking about her, even when I’m pretending to be busy with work. There's something going on between us. I can feel it, and so can she. It's as undeniable as the coursing of blood through my veins, and yet, I can't have her.

We can't be together.