Page 51 of The Game Plan

CherryBomb:ETHAN!

CherryBomb:GIMME, GIMME, GIMME!

CherryBomb:A picture of you glaring is NOT what I had in mind.

FearTheBeard:Payback’s a bitch, sweetheart.

CherryBomb:I’ll keep that in mind as I go without underwear until I see you again.

FearTheBeard:Fuck

Eighteen

Fiona

Returning to work sucks. The realization slaps me across the face hard enough to make me come to a halt. I actively hate walkinginto this office. I shouldn’t. It’s a beautiful space—a light and airy loft, all brilliant white. White to relax the eye andlet us show sample colors in their purest state.

There’s an energy here, as if each person is so grateful to be part of this place that they exude anticipation. Every personbut me, apparently. My steps shuffle with clear reluctance, a pit of ugly feeling lodged low in my belly.

No one seems particularly surprised to see me. I get a few sympathetic nods in my direction as I head to my desk.

“Brilliant,” I mutter under my breath. I can handle a lot, but being pitied burns me.

My desk sits in front of a massive Palladian window that starts at the floor and rises over ten feet above me. Outside, trafficis a flowing river, people darting to and fro. I want to be out there with them.

I’m turning my computer on when Elena appears. Honestly, for someone who’s caused me so much grief, she ought to look the part. I don’t know, maybe have black-and-white hair and long, red nails or something. It would feel so much better if she was also in hot pursuit of a Dalmatian puppy coat.

But she looks... normal. Dark blond hair, snub features, medium height. She looks like the girl who’ll be your best pal—thehappy, if not slightly ditzy, sidekick.

It’s a good disguise.

I’m tempted to ask her if she’s Keyser Söze. But I doubt she’d get the reference.

Elena once told a group of us that the only time she was willing to watch a movie was if a date took her to one, and thenshe’d be moving on—because no way would she continue to see a man who thought a movie date was acceptable.

Then again, not a week later, when Felix had mentioned his deep lust for all things Loki, Elena had waxed on about The Avengersand who was the hottest.

I lost points for picking The Hulk. They can look at me as though I’m crazy all they want; when Bruce Banner loses controland fucking roars? My nipples go tight.

For some reason this makes me think of Dex. And I do not want to think about him when Elena is perched on my desk. He’s myhappy place. She is not.

“What can I do for you, Elena?”

It doesn’t escape me that she’s tilting her head to catch a glimpse of my computer screen. I don’t know what she expects tofind there since I do most of my work on sketch pads.

She gives me a bright smile. The same easy, friendly smile that messes with my head and has me wondering if I’m making moreof her than I should.

“Just getting in?”

Considering my bag is on my desk and I’m carrying a takeout coffee cup? “Yep. Just getting in.”

I don’t miss the implication that she’s been here for a while. I still can’t decide if she plays dumb or really is. It’s hard to tell.

“Look, Fiona...” She places her warm, slightly moist hand on top of mine. “I know things have been strained between uslately. And I’m really sorry for it.”

Some of the stiffness eases out of my shoulders. But she keeps talking.

“I know it’s hard for you when we have such similar tastes, yet Felix keeps choosing me. I’d be upset too.”