Page 31 of Clean Finish (Goliaths of Wrestling #2)

Larkin’s Totally Courageous Mission

Larkin

Okay. I had a plan.

It was probably a crappy plan, but still. I was doing it. I needed to do it.

Except fucking work shit kept getting in the way.

Every time Holt emerged from his office, or Taylor wandered in to speak to him, I had to quickly cover up the sheet of paper I was working on and pretend I was doing something else. And then Holt asked me if I’d emailed our internet provider yet about speeds or bandwidth or something to do with Taylor’s idea to stream the shows online for pay-per-view. Then he asked me to check the invoice from our drinks supplier that had come in to make sure the new stuff we needed for the wrestlers’ signature cocktails was on there.

I was pretty sure my worker rights were being abused or something. Didn’t Holt know that I had something really important to do? Something way more important than work? Well, no, he didn’t, because I hadn’t told him what I was doing. But still. He should’ve sensed it. He should’ve thought, ‘Oh, Larkin’s concentrating on something. Better not bother him with work.’

I suppressed my annoyed huff when the door opened yet again, fixing a bright smile on my face as I looked up and saw Taylor coming into the room. “Hey, T-bone.”

“Hi, Lark.” He smiled back as I discreetly slid a blank sheet of paper over the one in front of me. “Holt in his office?”

“Uh-huh.” I watched as he opened the door and slipped inside, closing it behind him, then immediately hunched back over my desk.

Seb was helping the maintenance guys lug in the cladding for the new, bigger merch stand in the arena. Taylor definitely hadn’t wasted any time in improving Goliaths. I was still trying to convince Holt to put The Creamed Jeans on the drinks menu as my official signature cocktail. I was sure I’d wear him down eventually.

As much as I missed Seb sitting in here with me, I took advantage of his absence by focusing on my plan. It wasn’t actually all that complicated, but it still required some thought. And a lot of measuring. Yesterday, I’d gone into the office supply closet for the first time in months after coming up with the idea.

It had been a couple of days since I’d spent the night at Seb’s. Every time I thought about what he’d said to me in the dark, my gut bottomed out and a sense of urgency burned in my chest. When I’d woken up in the morning, I’d realised I’d migrated over to his side of the bed during the night and draped myself over him, my face almost buried in his armpit. I’d definitely been drooling, so I’d quickly shuffled back and wiped my mouth just as he started coming to.

It had been so nice sleeping with him—properly, in a bed this time. He’d been all warm and smelled so good, and I’d dozed off quickly with my face buried in his chest and his big arms around me.

I wanted it again. All the time. Only with him.

I was hoping to get this finished today, but just as I was making good progress, the door burst open again. Corey swept into the room in a pair of wide-leg pink palazzo pants and his usual flowing silk robe, with Cora tucked under his arm.

“Lark,” he boomed dramatically. “Is Holt in there?”

“Uh…” I darted a look at Holt’s closed office door. “He is, but I think he’s having a meeting with Taylor…”

Corey was already striding with graceful determination toward the door. “I need to speak with him. Urgently. ”

I hurriedly shoved back my chair as he flung open the door without even knocking. As he swept into the room, I peered around the doorframe to give Taylor and Holt my classic ‘adorably sheepish apology’ smile, but paused when I saw only Holt sitting stiffly behind his desk.

No Taylor. Anywhere.

Except… he definitely hadn’t left.

“Corey.” Holt’s voice was tight. Then I noticed he was gripping the edge of the desk. “What, uh… what can I do for you?”

He suddenly twitched and pressed his lips together tightly, his face turning a deeper shade of grey.

A huge grin slowly spread across my face.

I knew where Taylor was.

Corey stopped directly in front of Holt’s desk and pulled something out of his robe pocket, managing to convey pure disdain as he dropped it on top of the keyboard. Holt stared down at it blankly.

“You cannot expect me to endorse this.”

Releasing his death grip on the edge of the desk, Holt reached unsteadily for whatever it was. He seemed to be struggling to concentrate as he said, “Uh… I… It’s a— nngh —good deal for us, Corey—”

“It’s a joke !” Corey cried, gesturing dramatically with Cora. “It makes a mockery of my artistry. Look at it, Holt.” He snatched the thing—it looked like a packet—out of the boss’s hand and brandished it. “ Look at it.”

“What is it?” I asked with interest, coming closer and grinning evilly at Holt to let him know that I knew exactly what was happening right now. And exactly where Taylor was.

He flushed even more, narrowing his eyes before jerking his head meaningfully at Corey. I knew what he was trying to tell me. He wanted me to get rid of the big orc.

I helpfully ignored him.

Corey sighed, holding out the packet to me, then covering his eyes with his hand once I’d taken it. I looked down and snorted.

“Beef Teef,” I read out. “‘The jerky of choice for the Goliaths’ Tasselled Tussler.’ Oooh, cool, they look like fangs. Or tusks. Wait—they can actually fit over your teeth? Noice. ” I tilted the packet up to look inside for some jerky, then pouted when I realised it was empty. “Aw, man.”

“That’s just a mock-up,” Holt said tightly, starting to wheeze a little now as he tried to regulate his breathing. “To see if you’re happy with the branding.”

“I am absolutely not happy with this… utter joke. Get Carl to do it. Or Brian. I’m not the only one with tusks, Holt.”

“They’ll only be sold behind the bar as a snack,” Holt said in a strangled voice. “This is a big win for us, Corey. And you should— hhnngh —be proud that they specifically asked for you to be on the packaging. Plus, it’s an orc-run business. I thought you’d”—he let out a shaky breath—“like that.”

“Well, I refuse.” Corey snatched the packet from me and waved it in the air. “I didn’t consent to this. I don’t even eat jerky. I could sue.”

“I’d be stoked if someone wanted me to endorse their snack,” I said brightly. “Like chips or something.”

Corey huffed. “Sweetie, you’re too good to be the face of a chip brand. Don’t sell yourself short. You could be a fucking runway model if you weren’t working here.”

I perked up. “Really?”

“Maybe we could talk about this another time,” Holt interjected in a tight voice.

“Or I could go get Taylor,” I said helpfully, giving him an innocent smile. “I could’ve sworn he was still in here, but he must be back in his office. I’ll go get him, boss!”

“No!” Holt barked, back to gripping the edge of the desk as he hunched over, breathing like he’d just run a marathon. “I’ll… speak to Taylor… later.”

Corey sniffed and perched his butt on Holt’s desk. It creaked ominously under his weight. “I’d like to speak to Taylor now, actually.”

“Taylor’s very busy,” Holt wheezed.

I snorted. Yeah, Taylor was busy alright. Under Holt’s desk.

Holt glared at me weakly before his expression grew pleading. I sighed, deciding to take pity on him, seeing as Taylor apparently wasn’t , and gave Corey a big smile.

“Hey, Corey, why don’t I set up a proper meeting with Holt and Taylor for next week, once the shows are over? You don’t want to be stressing over this when you have to perform.”

The orc hesitated, stroking Cora’s back as he thought it over. “Only if Holt promises to do nothing with this until we’ve discussed it in full.”

“Of course,” I answered smoothly, while Holt gripped a pencil tightly and flattened his mouth to stay silent. Okay, this was getting less funny and more weird now. I did not want to be in the room when my boss nutted.

Taylor was a kinky little human. He was actually still going under there?

“Alright,” Corey reluctantly agreed after a few more seconds. He stood up from the desk and tossed back his long braid, not even deigning to spare Holt a glance as he swept from the room. “First thing next week, Holt. I’ll check my calendar for availability.”

I hurriedly backed out of the room after him, not wanting to be left behind with my freaky boss and his freaky human boyfriend. Corey was already gone, so I sat down at my desk and immediately picked up my phone to text Seb and tell him what’d just happened.

Five minutes later, Taylor emerged from Holt’s office and strode red-faced across the room to make a hasty exit without saying a word.

—

The next day, I was ready.

I’d decided I had to be brave. I’d been trying to gauge how Seb really felt about me over the last week or so—ever since my conversation with Holt. I still wasn’t all that sure, but I’d decided it didn’t matter. I wanted to tell him. I needed to tell him. If he didn’t feel the same… well, at least I’d tried.

I mean, sure, I’d be totally fucking devastated, but at least I would’ve tried. At least I’d know that I hadn’t missed my shot.

I’d ended up telling Hans everything while we gamed last night, so I was texting back and forth with him all morning as he asked for updates and tried to calm my nerves.

Bro have you done it??? he sent as I fidgeted at my desk, casting furtive glances every few seconds at Seb sitting quietly on the couch doing a crossword.

I haven’t had a chance yet! I sent back, shooting Seb an almost manic grin when he glanced over.

His lips curved into the crooked little smile I loved so much. “You okay?”

“Uh-huh. Yep.” I put down my phone, then snatched it back up when it vibrated with a new text.

Fuuuck, someone get this dude another gd hobby , Hans had sent.

I frowned, typing back quickly. Shut up, dude. He doesn’t need another hobby. He’s perfect.

Yeah, I got that last night when you wouldn’t frickin shut up about him, broseph , he replied. I’m just sayin. What if you don’t get a chance to do it today???

I will , I typed with determination. I’m wily as shit, bro. I can get it off him for long enough. Trust.

Except I didn’t know quite how to do that. I darted a look at the crossword book resting on Seb’s thigh, not letting myself get distracted by how nice his legs looked in his pants. I had a mission, damn it. I had to focus .

I was still just sitting there aimlessly five minutes later when Seb suddenly tucked his pencil into the book to mark his page and set it down on the couch cushion.

“Where you goin’?” I blurted instantly.

He smiled over at me as he stood. “Just to the bathroom.”

“Oh. ’Kay.” I fidgeted restlessly, jerking my chair from side to side, then attempted to casually lean back and prop my feet on the desk so it looked like I wouldn’t be going anywhere. But my heel slipped and smacked into my monitor, then thudded back onto the floor.

Seb huffed in amusement, pausing at the bathroom door as I muttered, “Shit,” and sat forward to check that I hadn’t damaged the screen. “You okay?”

“Yep, uh-huh,” I got out in a strangled voice. “All good. Totally… good.”

After another second, he disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door. The moment I heard the click of the lock, I grabbed the folded sheet of paper from my desk and scrambled out of my chair.

Even though there was no one in the room, it felt like I had to keep low to the ground as I made my way over to the couch. I executed a sweet forward roll, briefly wondering if I’d make a good spy or something, then ducked down low and reached for Seb’s crossword book.

After tucking the piece of paper between the pages, I crept back over to my desk and had just enough time to pick up my phone to look all casual and stuff before the bathroom door opened.

Successful implantation achieved, bro , I texted Hans. My heart was pounding in my chest.

A few seconds later, he replied. Noooooiiiiiiiice. Lmk how it goes. Im sending good vibes, my man.

My belly fluttered with nerves as Seb sat back down on the couch and picked up his crossword book. I shot up out of my chair. Oh god, I couldn’t just be sitting here when he found it. I was already way too fucking nervous.

I gave him a brief smile when he glanced over. “I need to go, um… Holt asked me to… check on the bar.”

“Alright.” He smiled back at me, still none the wiser.

I strode quickly toward the door, then hesitated as I glanced back at him. Fuck, maybe I should’ve kissed him first in case this didn’t go the way I hoped. I might never get another chance.

Stomach cramping with fear, I gave him once last wobbly smile before leaving the room.