Page 62 of Palm South University: Season 3
I try to smile, but it falls too quickly as I glance toward his office again. I try to make sense of the request, or of the look he’s giving me now, but it’s all I can do to hold tight to Mykayla’s desk and not let my weak knees crash to the floor. The way he’s watching me, I’m not sure if I should be excited or scared. His gaze is dark, hungry, and I feel it through my skin, my veins, all the way down to my bones.
I thank Mykayla, turning for the elevators again. When I look back at Brandon, he holds my gaze with his own before shutting his office door, leaving me to stare at the sleek metal door just as the elevator dings its arrival.
A few days later, I shove an abnormally large bite of salad in my mouth just as Jess blows through the kitchen door with a growl.
“Boys are the root of all evil, Lei,” she says, tossing her phone onto the kitchen island. It slides across and hits my bowl with atink, which causes her to pause and eye the contents. “Ew. Is that your dinner? Because if so, it personally offends me.”
I laugh around my mouthful, swallowing before reaching for my water bottle. “Listen, I eat so horrifically at my internship all week that all I want when I get home is something without carbs and grease.”
“You’re not human.”
“Tell me why boys are stupid today,” I say, shoveling another mound of kale into my mouth and effectively changing the subject.
“Ugh,” she huffs. “Jarrett had to postpone my trip to see him, so I’m not going up to New York for Thanksgiving anymore.” She tries to hold her anger, but it slips, leaving a sadness in its place that makes me pause mid-bite and drop my fork back into my bowl. Jess is a pretty tough girl, especially when it comes to handling guys, so to see her with glossy hazel eyes and a wrinkle between her eyebrows makes my chest ache.
“Oh, Jess, I’m so sorry.” I reach for her wrist, squeezing it once. “What happened?”
She shrugs, eyes on her hands as she picks at her deep red nail polish. “Work. What always happens?”
Nodding, I take another bite, trying to find the right words to soothe her. I know how important work can be to someone who has a drive and passion, someone who wants to succeed, but at the same time I can’t imagine coming second to that. It takes someone who is really understanding and patient, someone who is secure in who they are and what they have with their significant other.
“Are you okay?” I finally ask.
As if those words snap her back into the kitchen with me, Jess lets out a long, loud breath, shaking her head. “Yeah, I am. I really am. I get it, and I know he didn’t want to have to cancel. I’m just making the most of the situation,” she adds, popping her hands on the counter before forcing a smile my way. “Which is why I was looking for you. Tell your parents you’re not coming home for break. We’re having a Friendsgiving.”
I choke a little. “A what?”
“Friendsgiving! Oh, come on, like you haven’t seen every episode ofFriends.”She waves me off. “Anyway, I already tracked down the rest of the crew and they’re all in. Erin, Skyler, Cassie. I even let her invite Grayson and convinced Bear to put aside his differences with Skyler, whatever the hell is going on there.” We both exchange a look then. “Adam might come, too.”
I clear my throat, which is suddenly dry. “Jess, I’m so sorry but… I can’t come.”
“Your parents will understand, dude. Just tell them the situation. They love me!”
“I know they do,” I agree, playing with the soggy remains of my salad before pushing it away from me. “But it’s not them. It’s my internship.”
She blinks.
“I got invited to go to a conference over the holiday, and it’s a pretty big deal. Usually just our CEO goes, but he invited me along with him. I think…” I swallow. “I think I’m really making an impression on him.”
That’s one way to put it.
“Well, shit.” Jess plops down on the bar stool next to me, dropping her head into her hands. “I can’t even be mad at you for that.”
I chuckle. “Sorry.”
She sighs, sitting up again and turning to me with a smile. “It’s okay. Really. That’s awesome, Lei, and I’m really proud of you. I knew you were going to knock their socks off.”
With that she grabs for her phone, checking the screen before huffing again and flipping it over to face down on the counter.
“Waiting for a text from Jarrett?”
She nods. “I love him so much. It scares the shit out of me because I legitimately feel crazy.”
“Want me to play some Beyoncé so you can twerk it out toCrazy in Loveand get it out of your system?”
“Shut up,” she says on a laugh, but then she leans her head on my shoulder and I rest mine against hers, petting her hair. “Just tell me everything is going to be okay.”
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I assure her, and maybe myself a little, too. Because in just a few short weeks, I’ll be on a plane to Atlanta with my hot CEO. The same CEO who had his tongue in my mouth and his hands under my shirt two weeks ago.
I stare at my salad, suddenly craving something with a lot more anxiety-calming power.
“How do you feel about walking to Froggy’s for a triple scoop cone?”
Jess hops down off her stool, tucking her phone into her back pocket as she points in my direction. “Nowyou’re speaking my language.”
And with that, we link arms and head out the back door, both of us hoping like hell that ice cream is the answer to all our problems.