“A salesman who knows your name? Really?” she retorts. “I might be dumb, but I’m not that gullible.”
Fuck me. I hate it when this happens.
“Why aren’t you opening the door?” she says.
“Because.” I’m starting to whisper-yell now. “I don’t want to talk to him right now.”
“Why not? He’s your boss, right? And you two had some crazily epic sex!” she boasts as if she’s proud of it or something.
“That’s exactly why I’m avoiding him,” I say.
He rings the bell again. “Lesley? I know you’re in there.”
Sweat rolls down my back as I stare at the door, wondering what I should do.
“Didn’t we already go over this before?” Hailey muses.
“Yeah, but this time it’s different.”
“Why?”
“Because,” I hiss, “he’s got some of my panties.”
“So?”
“He bought them before I started working for him. And I found his stash,” I whisper.
“Oh …”
Shit. I told her. Was that smart? I don’t know, but I’m kind of panicking right now.
“I can hear you,” TJ’s voice resonates.
“Please don’t tell anyone that,” I say.
“I won’t, I promise,” she says, giggling. “Although I’m a bit shocked, Les. Your boss, a panty sniffer?”
“I know. Why do you think I’m so agitated about him being at my door? What do I do?” I whisper to Hailey, hiding in the corner of my house. Like that’s going to stop him from seeing straight through my door or something.
“Why not open the door?” she says.
“Because he lied to me,” I hiss. “He never told me.”
“Give him a chance to explain. Who knows. Maybe he has a good reason.”
“I doubt it,” I whisper.
“Or stay mad at him and let him walk away,” she says. “It’s your choice, of course.”
“But he’s my boss. If this is work related …”
“Then he can talk to you at work.”
“And if I don’t want to?”
“Yeah. I don’t know, Lesley. You really have to do what you think is right.”
I sigh. “Right.”
“Lesley … please …” TJ’s pleading now, and it’s so hard not to give in. “I know you don’t wanna talk to me, but you don’t have to. I’ll do all the talking. All you have to do is listen.”
“Do what you have to do, Les,” Hailey adds. “I’m here for you if you need me. Just call.”
“Thanks,” I reply, and I press the button to end the call.
A knock on the door. The silence that follows makes my heart thump in my throat.
“I’m not going anywhere, Les. Unless that’s what you want. In that case … I’ll leave something for you at the door.”
I put my phone down and step toward the sound, clutching myself. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. Whether I want to slap him. Scream in his face. Make him answer my questions. It’s so hard because I hate him for lying, and I want this to go away.
But my hand still reaches for the doorknob. And it still twists until it opens.
His face appears behind it along with a bright bouquet. And not just any flowers. Tulips. My favorite.
I’m so mad … mad that he’s trying to emotionally blackmail me … and mad that it’s actually working.
So what do I do?
I don’t scream. I don’t shout. I don’t punch anyone.
I don’t even say a word.
All I do is stare as he holds the flowers out to me.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
I snatch the flowers from his hand, pull back inside, and slam the door shut.
Chapter 21
TJ
Well, fuck me.
She closed the door on me.
I just stand there, stunned at what just happened.
But I have no time to process it because seconds later, the door opens again.
“I’m sorry, that was …”
“Comical,” I fill in for her, hoping it will defuse any tension.
She freezes but then relaxes, and I swear I can spot a smile tugging at her beautiful lips.
“And unusual,” I add.
“That’s me,” she mutters, occasionally glancing at the bouquet in her hand.
“I like it,” I reply.
For a second, all we do is gaze at each other, neither of us knowing how to start this conversation. So I clear my throat and begin. “I apologize for being such an asshole. I should’ve told you.”
She bites her lip but doesn’t respond, so I guess she’s waiting for me to say more.
“I was just so afraid of rejection. I couldn’t do it,” I add. “But I should have. Which is why I’m here. To apologize and explain. I know you probably think I’m a creep, and you’re right, I am. But this creeper is still in love with you.”
She looks down at the floor, but I can still see the side of her lip turning into a half-smile.
I’ll take it. It’s more than I expected.
“I messed up. Badly. I know. Will you forgive me?” I ask, laughing a little. “This is when I would give you the flowers, but since I don’t have them anymore, I’ll just give you a smile.”