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“I guess so. I sleep great when I have the bed to myself. Brianna hogs it most of the time, stretching out. I end up at the end of the bed and sometimes go sleep on the couch in my office.”
“You have an interesting relationship. Why don’t you get a new bed, a king-sized one.”
“That’s what we have already. It’s still not big enough.”
Of course, when we get to the break room, the empty coffee pot is sitting on the counter. We look at each other, and I take it to the sink while JC prepares a fresh filter for brewing. There’s an awkward silence between us as the coffee brews and I busy myself by washing out our mugs. His hand stroking my hair startles me.
“JC, don’t,” I whisper.
“I couldn’t resist. I always loved your thick hair. Remember when you would put your head in my lap, and I would stroke it? It always soothed you when you had a hard day.”
I give him a stern look as I hand his clean mug back to him. I can feel the heat on my face, and I’m sure my cheeks are the color of crimson. Damn him, why does he keep doing this to me? I keep my head down, not wanting to look at him. As the coffee pot finishes brewing, I add a splash of milk and a packet of sugar before I get ready to fill my mug.
I turn, and JC is holding the pot for me to put my mug underneath. I still don’t look at him as he fills it, then his own. I take a sip and relish the heat of the liquid as it slides down my throat. I hope it gives me the boost that I need. He looks at his watch.
“Another hour and I’ll meet you in the conference room. Don’t be late because I’m sure Kingston will be here early.”
“Sure, no problem.”
We walk back to our offices together, not speaking. I’m glad because I don’t want to make small talk. He shouldn’t have touched me; it’s too familiar. I spend the next hour going over the Kingston file wondering what we will have to change. The copy was good, and he liked it, now he doesn’t. At 4:50, I gather everything together and head to the glass-walled conference room. Sure enough, Mr. Kingston is there with his son. I can see JC talking with them.
They welcome me in, and all stand when I enter the room. I thank them and we all sit down at the large conference table. JC takes a seat next to me and his knee rubs mine as I discuss with Mr. Kingston the changes in the copy. I keep a smile pasted on my face the entire time even though I’m on the edge of frustration.
The changes that are requested are much like the previous copy from my predecessor. I quietly explain that the copy I wrote up is more persuasive along with the new graphics, but Mr. Kingston is adamant. His son sits glaring at me as if I said something offensive. He looks like he isn’t older than twenty-two — nepotism at its finest.
JC takes over after I present, and smooths out the bumps so that everyone is happy, everyone but me. I’m busy and thought we had put this account to bed. Now I need to rewrite the copy and ask the art department to draw up new graphics. After the Kingston’s leave, I just sit in the chair, trying to figure out what just happened.
“Lexi?”
“Yeah?”
“Look at me.”
I look up at JC, and he can see I’m upset. I have no room or time to do rewrites.
“We can work this together. Knock it out of the park tonight. Do you mind staying?”
“I might as well. I can’t do it tomorrow because Megan is staying with me. I haven’t seen her for a few months, and I’d like to spend time with her.”
“How is she?”
“Fine as far as I know. She just went through a pretty rough breakup. I think it’s part of the reason why she wants to move away from Jersey. She has an interview tomorrow here in the city with Nolan Pharma.”
“That’s great. Wish her luck for me.”
I laugh and smile at him.
JC grins back. “Yeah, I know; she still hates me for breaking your heart. I wish she’d get over it since it’s been several years.”
“I think she took our breakup harder than I did. Though I did take it pretty hard.”
JC’s face clouds and his eyes darken.
“Don’t remind me that I made the worst mistake of my life.”
I don’t know how to reply to that statement. As I head to my office, I hear my cell chiming behind my door and hurry to get it before it goes to voicemail. It might be Noah. I get to it just in time.
“Hey babe, how are you?”
