CHAPTER 14AnnaNibbling on the end of my pen—which is a nasty habit, by the way—I stare at my computer screen and try to become inspired by the most current project Kynan has put me in charge of. It’s nothing groundbreaking, and it’s completely what would be expected of the administrative assistant to the man in charge of this company.
And yet, it seems just a little too mundane for me.
Or maybe, that’s not even it.
Maybe it’s because I’m completely distracted by that kiss Malik and I shared three days ago.
Or maybe… it’s because I’m distracted by the fact the kiss was amazing and now Malik is completely avoiding me. Which would ordinarily be difficult for him to do since he’s been riding a desk since his return and it puts him in the same vicinity as me, but he somehow talked Kynan into letting him go with Ladd to New York to prepare for an upcoming security job escorting a foreign dignitary visiting New York City around next month. After scouting out the venues where the VIP will be present, they’ll work up a security plan with that information.
I’ve tried to call him. He doesn’t answer, and he hasn’t called me back.
Tried to text him. He responded, but feigned he was too busy to talk. Said he’d “get up with me” when he returned to Pittsburgh.
I’d think my feelings would be hurt, but they’re not. If there’s one thing that rang true the other night, it’s Malik is completely conflicted about his feelings. I can’t hold that against him. He and I are complicated as hell. The amount of baggage each of us is carrying on this journey is incredibly heavy. I’m not stupid… I know how treacherous this could become for us both, but it’s something we need to talk about.
I can’t do that if he’s avoiding me.
Setting my pen on the desk, I get out of my chair and stretch my back. I take a walk around my small office, trying to get focused, and look out through the glass wall—across the open space of the second floor and past the floating staircase to the offices across the way.
I see Corinne sitting in her office, typing on her laptop.
Haven’t talked to her in a while. Maybe I’ll take a little break to mosey over to say hello. Just a friendly thing.
Nodding hello at several coworkers as I wind my way through a few desks, I saunter over to Corinne’s office and give a light tap on her opened door. When she lifts her gaze, I’m given a welcoming smile.
“Hey,” she says warmly. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
I step inside, then settle into one of her guest chairs. She shifts her office chair my way, uncrossing and recrossing her legs.
“Just thought I’d stop in to say hello,” I reply vaguely. “Haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?”
“I’m good,” she replies with a bob of her head. “Had a quiet Thanksgiving back home in Atlanta. How are you?”
For a second, I consider giving the obligatory “all is good on my end” reply, but then think better of it. Part of Corinne’s job is to keep the Jameson employees mentally healthy, so I should take advantage of it.
“I have a bit of a problem.” I hesitate in case she needs to tell me this isn’t a good time and I need to schedule an appointment, but she just appears alert and interested, so I jump at the opportunity to spill my guts. “I think there’s something romantic happening between Malik and me, but now he’s acting weird about it. He has misgivings, and so do I, but then again, I really don’t. I mean… it’s complicated, right? And his issues aren’t the same as mine, but we’ve been through an event that’s sort of bonded us in a way, and now he’s just wigged out and not speaking to me, and I’d really like to explore that kiss and perhaps—”
“Whoa, wait,” Corinne cuts in over my rambling. “There was a kiss?”
“A short one,” I reply, nodding. “But it was so good. Impactful, but it totally freaked him out. Now he’s avoiding me.”
“Okay,” Corinne says, popping out of her chair. She moves to the door and shuts it, then takes the other guest chair beside me. “I have about half an hour until my next appointment. Back up and start from the beginning.”
I take a deep breath, then spill all about what’s happened between Malik and me over the last few weeks since he returned. She listens patiently without interrupting.
When I finish, I add, “I can’t explain it, but we have a bond. It’s more than friendship… deeper. And there’s obviously attraction, but I think he’s afraid to take it farther.”
“Put Malik aside,” Corinne says bluntly. “Because you truly don’t know what he’s feeling, so you can’t speak for him. Tell me what you want. What you feel.”