“Don’t pretend to know what I’d love,” I snapped.
I’d been prepared for her to look pissed, but I wasn’t ready for the hurt I saw on her face. It nearly fucking broke me. “I was just–”
“You were just overstepping yourself,” I forced. I needed to swallow the damn pill and close whatever door we’d just started to open.
I would’ve felt better if she’d shouted out some biting comment as I hobbled out of the exercise area, but she said nothing. I knew the look on her face was going to keep floating into my mind’s eye, and I wished I’d just kept my fucking mouth shut and not asked questions.
That would be the last time I let her see anything other than Mr. Stone. It had to be the last time.
14
LOLA
I knew it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. I could tell Termite wasn’t herself this morning and the idea of leaving her home alone while she was sick was too much. I also knew I couldn’t afford to call out of work–not with Mr. Stone as my boss. He’d never explicitly said so, but I suspected he would hold it against me if I had the nerve to get sick and call out.
So I did the stupid thing and brought my biggest bag with Termite stuffed inside. Last week, Cassie had shown me the gorgeous grass patio bar on the twentieth floor. Alcohol wasn’t served during work hours, but employees could get free sodas and a surprisingly awesome assortment of healthy smoothies to enjoy. There were cushy outdoor couches and cute little swinging benches that gave a breathtaking view of the Rockies and the little town of Fairhope.
I’d put in some “face time” as Mr. Stone called it with my co-workers when I came in and made an excuse at the first opportunity to sneak to the twentieth floor with my oversized bag and poor sick dog. Cassie and Paisley spotted me trying to discreetly head for the elevator and followed me.
“Where are we going?” Paisley whispered.
Cassie was eating some sort of dried snack that smelled foul. “Yeah, I just got an email saying I need to double check the accounting figures for last quarter and have a full report to Griffin before I leave today.” She rolled her eyes and gestured like she was holding a gun to her head. “I’m currently looking for any excuse to pretend I haven’t seen the email yet.”
I waited until the elevator doors were closed and the three of us were alone to open my bag and show them Termite. Both women “aww”ed and leaned over to scratch her head, but Termite barely responded.
“She’s not feeling well today, and I couldn’t stand the idea of leaving her alone. I’m going to let her try to potty on the twentieth floor.”
Cassie laughed and popped another piece of food in her mouth. “Girl. You are either brave or stupid. Do you know what Mr. Stone would do if he found out you snuck your dog to work?”
Paisley looked grim. “She’s right. Maybe you could make an excuse to run home real quick and take her back. Seriously, if he finds out, it’s going to be bad.”
“What does he care?” I asked. “It’s not like she’s running around causing distractions or destroying things. She just wants to be with her mommy,” I said, reaching in to give her a scratch behind her ears. Termite looked up at me with big, sad eyes as if begging me not to take their advice.
“Well,” Cassie said. “I’m getting one of those super green smoothies to sip while I watch you dare the devil himself.”
I made a noise. “You two build him up too much. He’s just a man. A grumpy one, yeah, but I don’t think he’s as scary as he wants you to think.”
Paisley tilted her head. “Last week, you told us that he barely speaks to you. What changed to make you two so familiar? Are you fucking?” she whispered.
The doors opened and I used it as an excuse to stall for an answer. I walked out and let them follow me through the glass mezzanine and out to the balcony. “No,” I said finally. “Nothing like that. We have just talked a little. I got the sense there’s a big difference between the real him and the version he wants people to see.”
“Hmm,” Paisley said. “You know I dated this guy in college who was an absolute slob. He drank expired milk, treated his living room like a hamper, and he was always drinking and getting high instead of going to class. But, he was super-hot and rode a motorcycle, so I convinced myself he was worth fixing. I thought I could teach him to be civilized and then I’d be the proud girlfriend of the perfect guy everybody else had missed.”