Page 17 of A Secret Escape

Lila

A ngela’s voice is burning with curiosity as she drops into her seat and leans forward across our desks, nearly toppling a stack of papers. “I cannot believe you didn’t text me the whole fucking weekend! I need details! Now!”

Lifting my eyes from my screen, I can’t help but burst into laughter. She is staring at me with an expectant smirk on her face that says she knows everything and nothing at the same time.

I take a deep breath, the memory of Friday night flashing vividly in my mind. My skin tingles with the electricity of Marcus’s touch, the heat of the dance floor, and the intensity of that kiss.

It feels like it had been a dream, and I’m not sure I want to wake up.

“What do you mean?” I ask, unsure exactly how much Angela even knows.

Had she seen us?

“Oh, quit playing all innocent! I saw you and Marcus all cosied up at the bar! I came to find you when I was leaving but didn’t want to disturb you. Details! Now!” she demands.

A rush of heat spreads across my face as Angela’s words register in my head .

After waking up alone Saturday morning with nothing more than a pounding headache and a queasy stomach, I spent the day feeling sorry for myself, certain that I’ve ruined any hope of ever being able to speak to Marcus again.

I spent all of Sunday coming up with plans of how to avoid him, including buying a jar of instant coffee so that I won’t be tempted to go to the coffee shop, planning that I would pretend to be on the phone if he ever comes down to our floor for anything, and deciding I would always take the stairs from now on.

“Well… we danced…” I begin, glancing around to make sure no one else can overhear. “And… we may have… kissed,” I whisper.

Angela’s eyes widen as she lets out a squeal so loud that I jump out of my seat to grab her hands, shushing her.

The office is starting to fill up and we fall back into our chairs in a fit of giggles as Carter walks in and flops down on his chair, shooting us a curious look.

“Oh, my, God !” Angela exclaims, trying but failing to keep her voice down.

A stubborn smile creeps across my face for the first time since Friday night as I remember the softness of Marcus’s lips.

“What’s going on?” Carter asks, one eyebrow raised in suspicion as he turns his computer on.

“She kissed him!” Angela says with another squeal, her volume slightly more controlled this time.

Carter’s face lights up as he turns to look at me. “What? Who? Marcus?!” Angela nods her head, her whole body shaking and her legs jiggling with excitement. My cheeks are burning bright red as I try to cover my face, but I can’t help the smile that has taken control of my mouth .

“About fucking time!” Carter holds his hand up for a high five across the desk, and I laugh begrudgingly as I reach over and slap his hand.

“And? Was it good? Oh my God, what am I saying? Of course it was good. Look how much you’re blushing!” Angela turns sharply to Carter. “Look how much she’s blushing!”

I drop my face down, laughing into my hands, but my smile refuses to budge.

“It was… intense,” I admit, regaining composure after a moment and looking back up. “But then, I don’t know… It’s complicated.”

“Wait! Did you go home with him?” Angela asks, her eyes nearly bulging out of her face as she bounces on the edge of her seat.

“No!” I respond, almost too quickly.

Not that I can remember , is the bit I choose to leave out.

To be honest, I can’t remember much from Friday night. I remember it pretty clearly up to the kiss, but after… I can’t remember how I got home, and I don’t remember if I might have done or said anything stupid to permanently ruin any chance I might have otherwise had with him.

In hindsight, perhaps skipping dinner and mixing multiple liquors was a bad idea.

“Then what ? Come on! Tell me everything!” Angela pleads.

“There’s nothing to tell, really. We had a few drinks, we danced, and… I may have… kissed him. That’s it!”

It wasn’t anywhere near as much detail as I had replaying in my mind from that moment, but it was the gist of what happened.

A shiver runs down my spine as I remember the strength of his hands gripping my waist, the softness of his lips, and the sheer electricity his touch sent surging through every nerve ending in my body when he pulled me up against him.

Angela cackles. “It sure didn’t look like that was it when I saw you at the bar! All cosied up, holding hands, he was nuzzling your neck like he couldn’t get enough of you! I was like, alriiiiiiight, get it, girl!”

Carter and I burst out laughing at Angela’s animated expressions, but inside, my stomach twists into a knot.

Why can’t I remember a single thing that Angela just described?

I remember the kiss, and the way the room started spinning when he kissed me back. I remember his hands, his sweat, and that delicious sandalwood scent of him. The taste of him. I remember leaving the dance floor and going back to the bar. But that’s where it ends.

Was he holding my hand?

I press my hands together, rubbing my left palm with my fingers, wishing the sensation would bring back a memory.

“Have you heard from him since?” Angela asks.

“No. But I don’t think he actually has my number.”

“No number’s not an excuse,” Carter chimes in. “That’s what DMs are for.”

Angela and I both turn to glare at him.

“And just how many DMs do you slide into on a daily basis, Carter?” Angela shoots at him.

“Hey, don’t look at me,” he says. “I’m a happily taken man, remember?” He winks.

I laugh at the both of them, shaking my head.

Carter shrugs as Angela turns her attention back to me. “So, what now?”

“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess. Avoid him at all costs for the time being. ”

Angela shakes her head vigorously. “No fucking way! Come on , Lila! You finally get close to the guy you’ve been swooning over for two bloody years ! And now you want to avoid him? Nuh-uh, no way! We’re coming up with a plan!”

“A plan? Not a chance!” I exclaim. “I came in a whole hour early today to make sure I didn’t run into him.”

“Why? You can’t avoid him forever! I say you go up there right now and talk to him. He probably feels the same way!”

My stomach clenches and churns at the thought. “I don’t know, Angie. What if he regrets it? What if he thinks it was a mistake?”

Carter lets out a chuckle under his breath.

Choosing to ignore him, Angela continues.

“Hey, if he is going to be a dick about it, at least you’ll know you’re better off without him!

But I have a feeling….” She pauses, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

“Let’s just say… If what I saw Friday night was anything to go by, I highly doubt that is the case. ”

I force a tiny smile, trying not to give away the fact that my pulse is racing and my palms dampen with sweat.

I’ve spent the entire weekend convincing myself that I had messed up, that the evening had been my one and only chance with him, and it was over, and I would have to resign myself to a life of wistful longing.

But Angela’s phrase, “ like he couldn’t get enough of you,” was playing on an endless loop in my brain. The thought that he might want me as much as I want him seems impossible, but still… even the idea of it leaves me feeling breathless and dreamy.

I shake my head, blocking out Angela’s mischievous grin, and focus back on the screen, where the Instagram analytics page is glowing with promising numbers .

“Anyway,” I say, my voice more composed than I feel.

“The opening was amazing. The posts you put up on Saturday have nearly shattered our engagement records, and comments are still rolling in.” I flick over to the next post, grateful to have the distraction from my thoughts.

“We need to capitalise on the momentum, personal responses to comments, strategic shares to influencer accounts, keep the conversation alive.”

And definitely not think about whether I’ll ever get to feel Marcus’s lips on mine again.