Page 143 of Halo

Her hair is wet, her face completely bare of makeup, those cute freckles on full display. But it’s the negligee I recognize immediately, and there’s no way she put it on without knowing exactly what it would do to me.

My little flirt.

I glance over my shoulder, checking the hallway before sitting up a little straighter.

I comb my fingers through my hair, smooth down the front of my scrub top, then spin my chair until the overhead lights stop making me look half-dead. Satisfied no one’s wandered in, I lift my phone, angle the camera, and give her a pout.

Click.

Not bad for a man who’s been awake since four.

I send it off with three little words: I miss you.

“Did you just take a selfie?”

I nearly broke an ankle, spinning around to find Jonathan standing behind me. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He smirks, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the wall. “I work here. I'm kinda your boss.”

Right.

“I meant, why are you here so late?”

“Admin on call.” He pushes up his glasses, doing a piss-poor job of hiding his grin. “So … you weren’t just giving the camera your best Blue Steel?”

Goddamnit.

“I was using the camera as a mirror.”

My phone buzzes against the desk.

His eyes drop to it. “I'm guessing that's the mirror responding?”

I work my jaw, but I have no retort

Jonathan snickers. “Dude, relax. We all know you’re in love. We also know this job makes you get creative about staying connected.” He nods toward my phone. “Although if you're going to do a thirst-trap selfie, go to the call room or even the bathroom.”

“It wasn’t a thirst trap.”

“Hrm.” His eyebrows climb. “Interesting.”

“What?”

“You’ll defend the selfie, but not the part where I said you’re in love.”

I stare at him.

Is that what this is? Am I seriously so emotionally stunted that I don’t even know what love is? I mean, I care about Leah. Immensely. She’s become such an important part of my life.

If I'm being honest, the best part.

I… can’t really remember life before her. She feels like she’s always been there, woven into my days so completely that I can't imagine her not being there.

I don't want to.

Oh.

Jonathan pats me on the back. “Happens to the best of us, buddy.”