Page 13

Footsteps echo behind me, slow and measured. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Marcus – there’s something distinct about his gait. Not to mention the air seems to shift when he enters a room.
“Morning,” he says, his voice neutral as he reaches past me to grab his mug from the overhead cabinet.
“Hi,” I manage, far too aware of the space he occupies next to me – closer than he needs to be, considering we’re the only ones in here.
He offers me a smile, but it’s not his usual bright, warming grin that makes my heart malfunction. It’s quieter, held back, as though there’s something weighing him down.
“Did you get home alright the other night?” he asks.
“Yea. Thanks again. For… you know.”
God, Lila. Learn how to string more than two fucking words together around him.
“Don’t mention it.”
The silence stretches between us as the coffee machine gurgles its final few drops and I pick up my mug, stepping aside so he can put his downin its place.
“How’s Carter?” he asks, his tone sounding as though he’s forcing it to be casual.
I can’t help the groan that escapes me. “I’m still furious with him. He owes me big time for that.”
Something flickers across Marcus’s face – confusion, maybe – but it’s gone before I can pin it down.
“I thought -” he starts, then stops himself. “Never mind.”
“What?” I ask, my curiosity flaring.
Before he can answer, Angela bounces in.
“Morning, you two!” she chirps, then pauses, her eyes narrowing as we both stare at her.
“Did I just interrupt something?”
“No. I should get back to work,” Marcus says, picking up his cup. He nods at Angela, barely acknowledging me as he moves past.
I stare after him, clutching my coffee mug too tightly.
“What was that about?” Angela whispers, nudging me once Marcus is out of earshot.
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “Nothing.”
“Right. So you weren’t just having amomentwith the most beautiful man in the building?”
“He just asked how Carter was, and he seemed surprised when I said I was furious with him.”
“Why would he be surprised about that? I feel like being furious with Carter is just a daily occurrence.”
“I don’t know. I mean you saw how fucking trashed Carter was the other night. Marcus practically carried him outside for me.”
Angela’s eyes widen with realisation. “Oh my God, and now he thinks you and Carter aretogether!” she exclaims.
“What? No! That’s -”
I stop as the realisation hits me.
Carter’s drunken ‘You’re so pretty.’ His head resting against me. Me saying I needed to get him home.
“Fuck.”