Chapter 19: : Chapter 19

“You’ve picked up CAD rendering very quickly,” Mark says as he leans in to look at my screen. “I have a feeling you’re going to end up becoming a permanent member of the design team when you finish your internship.”

I smile up at him as Theo rolls his chair closer to take a look at my proposed changes to the POS system that’s causing so many issues. “Damn,” he says, smiling wryly. “This is a thousand times better than my attempts.”

I grin at him as he moves back to his own desk, pleased with myself. I’ve fully thrown myself into the task we were assigned this morning, in an attempt to keep my mind off Archer and the slight sensitivity between my legs. I fell asleep in his arms last night, and everything just felt so much more intimate than I’d anticipated. He wasn’t anything like what I’d expected in bed. His usual aloofness was entirely absent, and having his undivided attention was intoxicating.

I bite my lip as my mind replays the way he asked me if I’d let him take care of me before he grabbed a warm, wet towel, taking his time to wipe my thighs clean for me. Not even in my wildest dreams did I think he had that side to him, and it affected me more than he could possibly know.

The sound of the company’s instant messaging system snaps me out of my thoughts, and my eyes widen when I see Archer’s name. I look around furtively before opening the message, my heart pounding.

Archer Harrison

why weren’t you in my bed when I woke up this morning?

My breath hitches, and I sit up a little, a thrill running down my spine as I type a reply, trying my best to be both quick and sly.

Serenity Adesina

I had to get ready for work, and I didn’t want to wake you.

Archer Harrison

don’t sneak out without a word again, darling. Just wake me up next time.

My heart skips a beat at the sight of the endearment, and instantly, my mind teases me with memories of him whispering come for me, darling.

Serenity Adesina

There won’t be a next time! I can’t stay over again. My hair was a complete mess this morning. It took me thirty minutes just to detangle it.

Archer Harrison

I’m not following, Sera. What does that have to do with my bed?

Serenity Adesina

I have a silk pillow that makes my curls more manageable, and I really shouldn’t sleep without it.

Archer Harrison

I see…I wish I could’ve seen your messy hair this morning. I bet you looked beautiful.

I stare at my screen, my stomach fluttering. He says the sweetest things sometimes, and I don’t think he even realizes it.

Archer Harrison

how do you feel today?

Serenity Adesina

a little sensitive, but I’m okay. How are you?

My stomach twists as I begin to wonder if maybe he regrets what we did. He seemed to enjoy it, but then again, what do I know? Maybe it was too much hassle to be so patient, and maybe he didn’t enjoy it as much as I did. I doubt he was able to truly let go when he was so concerned with my comfort.

Archer Harrison

I’d have been better if I hadn’t woken up all alone, only to then be thrown into back-to-back meetings. Come see me later. I’ll be back in my office in thirty minutes.

I bite my lip again and glance around, making sure no one is looking at my screen.

Serenity Adesina

I can’t. You know I can’t. I don’t want anyone to find out we know each other outside of work, and we shouldn’t do anything that’ll get us caught.

“Serenity?”

I gasp and quickly click my chat with Archer away, my heart beating out of my chest as I turn toward Theo, who’s rolling his chair closer. “What’s up?” I ask, my tone a little higher pitched than I’d like.

He frowns, his gaze searching. “I’ve been thinking about this all morning, unsure how to bring it up.” He runs a hand through his hair, and my mind begins to run wild. Does he know? All morning I’ve wondered if he could tell that I feel a little different, and I’m not sure how I’d reply if he asked me outright whether something happened. There are very few secrets I’ve ever kept from Theo.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice trembling just slightly.

“Kristen wanted me to ask you if you’d like to come over for dinner sometime. She says you two have barely spoken in some time now, and she’d like to cook for you.” He hesitates. “No pressure, of course. I just…I do feel like you judged her harder than me, and we both kept the same secret. It truly would mean a lot to me if you’d come over. Kristen…she thinks she lost you, and she’s devastated. It’s really hard to watch her agonize over text messages she wants to send you but can’t.”

I stare at him, my heart constricting painfully. He has no idea what he’s asking of me—he won’t ever know. The mere thought of visiting a home they share and having to watch them together pains me. How am I supposed to survive the reality of it?

“Please,” he says, reaching for my hand. “Kristen keeps telling me that whatever is going on between you and her isn’t as simple as I think it is, and I won’t pry, but she isn’t the only one who misses you. Please, come have dinner with us. Whatever happened between you two can’t erase a decade of friendship, can it?”

I nod, pure agony spreading from my chest, numbing my senses. “Okay,” I murmur. “How about sometime next month?” I ask, trying to buy myself some time. “I’ve been so busy with work, and honestly, I’m not sure I can fit it in any sooner.”

He breathes a sigh of relief, not realizing how reluctant I am. Theo is my best friend, and he doesn’t seem to realize that my heart is bleeding, that I’m forcing a smile as he beams at me. Or maybe he does, and he’s just ignoring it in favor of making Kristen happy.

“We can leave together after work whenever you want,” he says, his eyes twinkling. “I can’t wait to show you our place. We chose it from one of your lists, and I think you’ll really love it.”

I pull my hand out of his, my stomach dropping when I realize that they’re living in one of the apartments I imagined Theo and me in. He might not know what he’s asking of me, but Kristen does.