AllFreeNovel
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Is he trying too hard?
What if it’s an impossible task we’ve both assigned ourselves?
We want to hold onto that magical, loving feeling we had. Right now, as I look at the small square on the computer that contains his image, I wonder if it’s wrong to drag what happened in Hawaii into my life going forward.
What if it was meant to be temporary?
Worse—what if Jack wants it to be temporary?
Raymond’s talking again, and I’ve yet again lost track of what he’s saying. I lean forward, trying to get my brain to re-engage.
“...an attempt to avoid potential problems. Now, if you’re telling me there is no lasting romantic contact between you whatsoever, I feel that can absolutely work in our favor. That negates all the threats this document is designed to protect against.” He ticks them off on his fingers. “Harassment suits, conflict of interest, decreased productivity…”
I knew those three things would come back to haunt me.
Jack’s voice sounds incredibly sad. “Hey, I’ve heard those before… In fact, Hazel brought all that up when we were on the island.”
“Did she?” Raymond asks.
I feel myself nodding. “Yeah, yeah, I did.” My shoulders slump, heavy with the weight of what’s happening.
Raymond seems pleased. “Good. That’s great, actually. You did well in considering the policy together. It’s wild how many people sign handbooks and whatnot without ever reading through the dang things.”
“Maybe companies should make animated videos instead of handing out chapter books,” Jack suggests.
Raymond chuckles. “Ha! Videos. I like that. You might have a business idea on your hands there, Mr. Morgan. It does seem the population has shorter and shorter attention spans these days.”
Jack chuckles, too. “Hey, I like it. Maybe I’ll follow up. Cartoons, that’s where it’s at, man.” He laughs again. It’s not his natural, relaxed laugh—the one I know. It’s a form of social currency meant to soften the conversation.
It works.
Raymond is loosening up. It’s clear he thinks we’re out of the tough stuff and into lighter territory. He rests his beefy shoulders back against the deluxe office chair. “I don’t want to come off sounding jaded, guys, but I see many of these situations. It’s nice to feel I’m working with two mature adults for a change.”
“That’s us. Right, Hazel?” Jack asks.
I nod again.
Even as I nod, my eyes flit over to Jess’ long legs, and a quick burst of doubt flickers through me. I feel as insecure as a teenager, worrying about her crush’s feelings for another girl in gym class.
I really wish I felt mature right now.
I really wish I was the person I’m pretending to be: a woman so seasoned by years and years of life’s lessons that all this barely fazes her.
So cultivated, mellow, and worldly that she can kiss a man under the moon in Hawaii and then ‘move on’ without a hitch in her step.
That woman, I’m sure, could sit here and discuss harmless, silly kisses with a lawyer and say they meant nothing.
That woman probably could move on with her professional life without missing a beat.
But that’s not me.
Not right now.
Even though those shared kisses may have been no big deal to another person, they meant so much to me.
It’s a struggle to try to keep everything straight right now.
Did Jack and I form a lasting bond, or not?
