Page 120 of Not In The Contract

But even though I played it down, her words settled somewhere in my chest. Landed, took root, and would be keeping me up with the potential outcomes it was likely to bloom.

She sighed, looking unconvinced but also ready to let me have my way. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

When I finally snuggled down, thoughts of Alex swirled in my head. Tamera knew my side, and why I did what I did. And she still thought I needed to give things more time. Sleep would be impossible. At least I knew that one thing with absolute certainty.

Especially with how empty and cold the bed was…

40. Confessions

Alex

Thearomaoffreshlybrewed coffee created a heady backdrop to the shit show I found myself stewing in since last night.

“Cares about me, but doesn’t want to be with me…” I laughed incredulously, looking at nothing outside the coffee shop window.

“I didn’t catch that?”

I blinked stupidly up at the waitress, nearly jumping out of my skin at her sudden appearance. Thoughts of Devon had me so wrapped up in my head it felt like I’d been floating through the morning all alone. Auto pilot.

“I’m waiting for a friend.” Cursory smile, received with a cursory nod before the waitress walked off again.

She’d probably been watching me talk to myself and wanted to give me a distraction to put me out of my misery. I stifled a bitter laugh. The only thing that would bring relief to this situation was a wrecking ball. Aimed right at the window seat I was currently occupying.

Yes, I’d take that shit with arms wide open if it meant I didn’t have to deal with the Devons and Jamies of this world. Just one Jamie, actually.

And one Devon…

I fell for you somewhere along the way.

Agitated fingers raked through my hair in a bid to physically pluck the memory from my head. I knew better, though, and exhaled slowly. Devon’s face, along with her words, was seared into my brain. I wasn’t going to be getting rid of her any time soon.

“Ready when you are.” The same waitress from before was back, notepad at the ready, smile plastered on her face.

I bit the inside of my cheek a little too late, and contained composure became wishful thinking. “I told you I’m waiting for someone, so could you just back off, lady?”

Taylor, eyebrows raised and grinning, popped out from behind the stunned waitress. She gave me a critical once over and took her seat opposite me in the booth.

“Let me guess… the right side of the bed was taken today?” She didn’t even try to hide her amusement.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, at Taylor, the waitress, and everyone in the history of ever. It was going to be a long day.

“Two dirty chais, with an extra shot for Miss Sourpuss over here,” Taylor told the waitress, who nodded meekly and hurried off. Probably wanting to get out of the line of fire as quickly as possible. I didn’t blame her.

As soon as we were alone Taylor fixed me with a knowing look, fingers steepled under her chin. “Out with it.”

I sighed heavily, my shoulders slumping under the weight of defeat. Barely nine-thirty and I felt like I’d gone twelve rounds in a ring with Mayweather.

“There’s nothing to be out with,” I snipped, dragging my folder to the middle of the table and flipping it open. “Let’s just work, shall we?”

Taylor glanced at the draft estimates I’d printed out, then her gaze drifted back to mine. She seemed to be deciding whether to let it go or press on. I steeled myself under her careful consideration, careful to keep a straight face. If there was one thing I knew about my friends – Taylor in particular – it was that letting go was never a real option.

“Okay.” She shrugged nonchalantly and proceeded to retrieve her laptop.

If I wasn’t sitting down, the shock of that one word would’ve knocked me flat on my back.

“Okay?” I watched her pull up a video walkthrough of the ideation for her new resort chain.

Taylor tapped the spacebar to pause the video and smiled at me. “Okay,” she repeated with an assuring nod.