Page 112 of The Arrogant One

I hadn’t arrived until close to eleven thirty, so that meant she had been there for almost two and a half hours before I saw her.

I picked up a pen and clicked the top with my thumb; the energy pouring out of me made me click it harder and faster.

The more I stared at my screen—studying her name, the time, calculating how long she’d been at Musik, as though thesimple math wasn’t really that simple at all—the worse this felt.

“My work thing was nearby. Since it was long and daunting, Bryn and I decided to come here after. For a drink.”

Her response, which continued to repeat in my head, made it seem as if she had randomly stopped in and only for a drink. But she’d had all intentions of coming, and that time span was long enough to have more than one drink.

So, she hadn’t told me she was going to Musik. She hadn’t told me she’d made the reservation four days ago. She hadn’t told me she was there, and she hadn’t mentioned that she’d been there for hours.

She’d lied—at least it seemed that way—about all of it.

I dropped the pen and slid my hands through the sides of my hair.

Why?

Why did she need to be so dishonest?

Why does all of this feel so fucking off?

Am I missing something?

Sadie

I hated waking up alone this morning, but I loved waking up to the thought that I’m going to see you tonight.

Oh, and good afternoon.

Me

Hey, you. I just had a meeting with my family, and they were saying how much they enjoyed meeting you.

Sadie

Aww, same.

What are your thoughts on this evening? Stay in? Go out? I’m down for anything.

I set the phone on top of my desk, finding the nearest pen, and while I continued to stare at the screen, I jammed my thumb on the clicker again.

Not that I’d expected her to bring up last night and our accidental run-in. I was sure it was a topic she wanted to avoid and hoped I’d moved on from it, but what the fuck?

Was I making too big of a deal about this?

Was I not seeing things clearly?

Did I need a voice of reason?

Shit.

I left my phone on my desk and carried the pen to Eden’s office, knocking on her door, and when she said, “Come in,” I cracked it ajar.

“Do you have a second to talk?”

She pulled her hands off her keyboard. “Of course.”

I closed the door behind me and took a seat in the chair across from her desk.