Page 15 of I Love You, I Hate You

I did something the other day. Something I’m not proud of, but I don’t regret it. And I’m wondering what kind of person that makes me. If I can do that and not care, what does that mean about who I am?

@Lukethebarnyardcat

Unless you murdered someone, you’re probably in the clear

But in all seriousness, we all make compromises and there’s nothing inherently bad about that. Is it a work thing or a personal life thing?

Victoria chewed her lower lip and thought. The case was a work thing, which made Owen a part of work, but “we keep hooking up” wasn’t strictly work related. Nor was it something she felt like sharing with Luke.

@Noraephronwasagenius

Both. Kind of related, tbh. It’s complicated.

@Lukethebarnyardcat

Nemesis related?

@Noraephronwasagenius

Exactly. I’m working on something and I’m just not sure I’m on the right side of it. But it’s my job, and my duty is to who I’m working for. I want to say that I believe in what I do, but I’m not sure that’s true anymore. Particularly in this case. And honestly, I wish I could quit.

She took a deep, shuddering breath. Writing that was almost as scary as thinking it. She’d worked so hard to get to where she was, and she hated it. She liked the paycheck, but the rest? It hurt. She loathed hurting people like her mother, and she absolutely detested having to pretend she wasn’t sick to her stomach over it when she went head-to-head with Owen. She wished she could be on his side of it, but that sort of work paid peanuts and she had loans to pay and a mother to support. And Owen had a way of bringing up those conflicted feelings.

@Lukethebarnyardcat

Is he on the right side of it?

@Noraephronwasagenius

He is, and I hate that. He’s holding it over my head, and he called me out the other day, and I think he was right. Which is probably the worst part.

Victoria’s palms were unaccountably damp as she typed the words. Owen’s accusations the other day had gotten under her skin because they were true. She wasn’t extending a hand to pull up those after her. Sure, she had her responsibilities, but maybe working for Smorgasbord wasn’t the most ethical thing she could do. Maybe there were other options out there she simply hadn’t explored yet.

But, as honest as she could be with Luke, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him she’d turned Nemesis into a hatefuck buddy.

@Lukethebarnyardcat

Tell me your side first

Victoria smiled to herself, because of course Luke would want to hear her side first. Not for the first time she considered just telling him everything, identifiable details and all, but she held off. She worried if she went too personal she’d lose the freedom she felt when she was talking to him and she didn’t quite want to risk it.

@Noraephronwasagenius

You know how I grew up poor, right? Well, I had to take out a lot of loans to get where I am today, and the best way to pay them back is to get a corporate gig. But my corporation isn’t always the most ethical, and Nemesis doesn’t get how I can justify working for them.

@Lukethebarnyardcat

You can justify it because of what you just said. You can’t fix everything, and going delinquent on your loans won’t help anyone. He doesn’t get to preach at you for that

Warmth settled around her ribcage and she sipped her wine. It was nice having someone like Luke in her corner.

Owen stopped with a spoon of yogurt halfway to his mouth and frowned. A faint buzzing noise sounded again, so it wasn’t just his imagination. “Master Skywalker, have you seen my phone?” he asked, scanning the coffee table in front of him. “It could be Nora, you know.” He hoped it was, because her anxiety about her job the other night had made him feel even more protective of her than usual. Luke’s tail twitched but he stayed otherwise implacable, stretched out languorously on the couch. Owen paused the episode ofParks and Recplaying and lifted up the throw pillow next to him. One more buzz had him standing up, patting his pockets and moving the cushion behind him.

He stopped, eyes narrowed, and glared at his cat. “You’re hiding my phone, aren’t you?” Again Luke remained silent, uninterested in the needs of his human. Sighing, Owen scooped him up to grab his phone and check his messages. Unfortunately, the messages weren’t from Nora.

Andy Lee

Quick question: which tie?????