Page 38 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

She was so beautiful. It took everything I had not to gather her in my arms.

“So, what now?” she asked softly.

“What do you want to happen?”

She seemed genuinely taken back by my question and my urge to kiss her again was so strong, I had to bite my tongue and tighten my lips to keep myself from doing it. She had to know I’d do anything she asked. Anything.

“You can’t ask me something like that. Not right before I have to meet a client.”

“Nikki, we have to talk about this.”

“I know. But now is a really bad time.”

“But you’ll come back to the shop tomorrow, right? I’ll see you then?”

Her lips parted and a strangled noise came out before she asked, “What about Rochelle?”

“Rochelle?” The name was a splash of cold water in my face.

“You’re dating her.”

I shook my head. “It isn’t like that, Nikki. She’s helping me with my art, that’s all.”

She stepped back, taking herself away from my touch. “Lilly told me she’s… making you date her in exchange for an art showing or something, is that true?”

I lifted a shoulder. “We can talk about it tomorrow–”

“Tristan.”

I held up both my hands, about to answer her as Kelly opened the door without knocking again. “Boss, we’ve gotta get in that room before the client shows. Now.”

She closed her eyes and let out a breath, then snatched the coffee cup from her desk. She mouthed, “Tomorrow” to me and left, looking back at me only once before shutting the door.

When I left her office and trudged down that alleyway, it felt a lot like doing the walk of shame.