Page 37 of Apparently, I’m Torture

A dull thudding vibrated against the glass wall, and Stacey’s bright, blonde head reappeared. “Oh, you’re still in here. Your computer’s been fixed, so, you know. Time to get back to work.”

As quickly as she came, she left, barely sparing a glance for the emotional shit-show in front of her. I pocketed my phone, smoothed my hands along my bangs and stood. If it took sitting at my desk for the rest of the night, I’d find a way to get this done.

Chapter 14

Lilly

Tuesday Evening

Verra Convention Centre

Mia’s skeptical face would normally manage to steal my attention. But after more than a week of not making any progress, I refused to let my eyes leave my monitor. I slid her a sidelong glance as she asked, “So, you’re telling me all you needed to do was switch on the waterworks, and he did what you wanted?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe? I don’t know. All I know is I finally have a working computer, and I’m not letting it go to waste.”

“Okay, fair, fair. I’ll leave you be. Call me if you need me.”

I nodded, eyes still on my screen as she left my peripheral vision.

I typed and typed and typed. Email after email registered itself in my sent items, and I double checked each attachment before letting it fly into the waiting arms of merchandisers.

It felt so good to be doing something. To finally be able to tick jobs, tasks, duties, off of my list. With every email and phone call, I updated the project plan and shimmied at the sight of things falling into place.

People floated by my desk. The ding of the elevator was masked by the ferocious speed of my fingers racing across the keyboard. I lost track of time, only pausing to swat Mia’s probing, tickling touch away from my ribs. The florescent lighting beat down on me, and I squinted at my screen, ears relaxing in the quiet of the now-empty office.

I sighed and sank into my seat. Alone at last. The sun set against the Manhattan backdrop; the noise of the city was muted. I looked around the vacant desks, taking in the messy ones along with the tidy. Ah, teachers. We were a mixed bag. You never knew what you were going to get.

I stood from my chair, taking a minute to stretch while my stomach grumbled. The sense of control that came from finally doing something was heady, and I felt better than I had in days. But I was hungry. Maybe I could knock another task off and order some takeout.

I hummed as I tapped on my phone, refusing to think of Mrs Hernandez or the module work I had waiting for me. I was here, being productive and proving myself. That’s what I chose to focus on. And I’d order some tacos while I was at it.

“Lilly?” A deep, velvety voice made me jump out of my skin.

“Shawn.” Hand to my chest, I drew in a breath as I turned to face him.

He held out his hands, an apologetic smile on his face. “I wasn’t trying to scare you.”

“It’s okay.” I held up my phone. “I was just ordering takeout. Want something?”

He frowned as he rolled his shoulders back, and I noticed the blazer draped over his arm, the first two undone buttons of his shirt, his missing tie. His big hands gripped the fabric of his jacket as his shirt stretched tight against his chest. My own hand touched my waist, remembering the feel of his solid strength as he lifted me.

Okay, wait. Earlier today, I hated him. Now I was… perving on him? Ugh, not again. Mia would not approve.

“But… maybe Nikki would?”

I let out a bark of laughter, mortified I’d said that out loud.

Shawn took a step closer, and I’d forgotten the way he did that, the way he took up space. He was like a vortex, stealing all my focus until staring at him was my only option. Magnetic wasn’t a strong enough word to describe him.

In the handful of seconds that passed since I asked him about dinner, I’d gone from perving to embarrassing myself to staring at him. Maybe I should just accept the fact that when it came to Shawn, too many emotions were brought into play.

“Nikki wants takeout? Is she on the phone now?” Shawn asked, confused, and another bubble of laughter filtered out of me.

“No, I meant… I could definitely go for a taco. What about you? Interested?”

His frown was still there, and he narrowed his glance as he said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be working this late.”

I leaned back and brandished my phone. “We used to pull late nights back at the coffee shop all the time. This is nothing.”