Page 5 of Anyone But You

I snorted and exited our group chat when I received an incoming text message from Dirty Old Bastard. I rolled my eyes at the attachment of an open box of donuts from my favorite bakery located two blocks from our office.

Sometimes, when Knox wasn’t being a complete monster, I’d find a treat on my desk from him—usually in the form of a heavenly soft and sweet powdered sugar donut. The last time he left me donuts was to apologize for making me do a ton of preparation for a meeting that he ultimately bailed on. It took meweeksto assemble the massive expense report and presentation, only to be the only attendee at the meeting. Without informing his executive assistant, Knox decided to take the clients to a working brunch followed by golf, leaving me at the office hotter than a hot comb on Easter Sunday morning. I was still pissed when he returned to the office that afternoon with a box full of fluffy, delectable donuts. I snatched them from him without hesitation and devoured three, which resulted in him nicknaming me Tori Montana due to the epic mess I made with the powdered sugar.

Tori Montana…Knox can be funny when he wants to be, but those moments are few and far between.

Knox:Look what I got you, Tori Montana.

Me:You’re messaging me outside of work hoursandon my personal phone. I meant what I said when I said I didn’t want to hear from you. Just for that, I’m taking FMLA when I return.

Knox:Let me save you the trouble. Your FMLA has been denied.

I frowned in disgust.

Knox:Stop frowning. You’re too pretty to frown.

I groaned and threw my phone into my purse.

This man knows me too well, like on some lover-type shit, minus the sex. I guess it’s bound to happen when you spend over sixty hours a week with someone. You unintentionally learn everything about that person—their likes and dislikes, quirks, mannerisms, and favorite deli order. A week away from Knox will do me good. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

* * *

“Good morning. My name is Tiffany, and thank you for choosing Premiere Flight Airlines. Put your suitcase on the scale, and we’ll get you checked in,” the preppy agent said.

“Good morning,” I grunted as I lifted the suitcase onto the platform. I said a silent prayer that I wasn’t over my limit.

“Forty-eight pounds even. You won’t have a lot of room for souvenirs,” Tiffany mentioned.

As long as I can fit a magnet for Knox in the suitcase, then I’ll be fine. Ugh. Why am I thinking about bringing him anything back?!

Knox had a quirk about collecting novelty magnets from every place he visited. He once overshared that his parents used to do it when they went on road trips when he was a child.He wanted to keep his father’s memory alive by continuing the tradition.

It’s not a big deal if I buy him a magnet. It’s a nice gesture that won’t break the bank.

“May I have a name and ID?”

“Victoria Caldwell,” I confirmed, slipping her my driver’s license.

“And where are we traveling today, Ms. Caldwell?”

“Miami.” I beamed.

“How fun!” she exclaimed. “I went to Miami a couple of years ago for Spring Break and had the best time of my life. I mean…I returned with a little souvenir I couldn’t unwrap until nine months later, but it was a memorable experience.”

Not this woman getting knocked up on Spring Break. No judgment. I just wouldn’t mention it in a professional setting, which makes me question if I’m really down to clown in Miami. Yes, contraceptives exist, but they can also fail. At least if Knox knocked me up, then I wouldn’t have to worry about child support.

I sighed.

Why am I thinking about this man? Knox and child support shouldn’t be in the same sentence.

“Um…Ms. Caldwell?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t have a booking here for you.”

“I beg your pardon?” I asked, now on high alert.

“I see here that your ticket was canceled last night.”