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The elevator arrives with a ding. She steps inside. I step after her.
She presses the button, turns to the door, checks her hair in the reflection of the shiny silver doors.
The elevator rises.
Laurel does what she always does when we're alone. She pretends she doesn't care I'm here.
She runs her hands through her long, dark hair. She applies another coat of lipstick. She smooths her purple sundress. She raises a foot and rolls her ankles.
"You'd last longer in shorter shoes," I say.
"These are short." She glances at the three-inch platform. "And they're wedges. They're comfortable. But thanks for the life advice." She flips her hair over her shoulder theatrically.
"We can play nice, you know."
"Can we? It doesn't seem like it." She's just as dramatic about raising her other foot, rolling her other ankle in measured circles. "It seems like you feel the need to comment on every one of my choices."
"Your dad asked me to keep an eye on you," he says.
"Yes, he did." She shoots me that same serene smile. The one that saysfuck you, I don't care what you think. "He did not askmeif I needed a babysitter."
"Well yeah, not after what happened with—"
She cuts me off before I can remind her of the gory details. "I'm a grown woman."
Yes, she's a grown woman who had a public meltdown when she caught her ex with another woman.
I don't blame her for cussing him out.
But then, I can't blame the people who watched the viral TikTok either. Laurel is entertaining when she's mad.
She's sexy as sin when she's mad, actually.
Like right now, the way she's staring daggers at me—
My head screamsdon't do it; she hates you.
But my dick? My dick doesn't give a fuck about that. It only cares about the feel of those lush red lips—
She was—
We were—
Nope. Not a productive area of thought.
"If I don't comment on your shoes?" I offer an olive branch. I'm the one who needs this job, after all.
Her dad is always going to be her dad.
If I fuck this up, he won't be my boss for long.
The door arrives. The elevator doors slide open.
Laurel motionsafter you. "I'll think about it."
"If I compliment your shoes?"
"I'm waiting." She motionsgo ahead, but I'm not sure if she meansshut the fuck up and walk to my brother's apartmentorlet's hear the compliment.
