Page 14 of The Truths We Find

“Ugh, that jerk. What did he say about the whole basically leading-you-on thing?”

“Not much. Kinda felt like he was blaming me for it.” I end up chugging the rest of my drink down. The burn from the alcohol helps numb the thousands of thoughts going through my head.

“Are you fucking kidding me? How can he be that stupid?”

“I don’t know and honestly, don’t care. He asked to be friends.”

“I hope you said no.”

“I did. Told him we can be colleagues. That’s all I can do right now. It’s not like I’m going to see him outside of work anyway.”

Alexa holds out her glass. “Cheers to that.”

I decide not to mention anything about what almost happened in Gavin’s office. As much as I love Alexa, I’m too exhausted to rehash everything and have a three-hour conversation about it.

We each have one more drink before closing out our tab and heading home. As we’re walking to our cars, I feel my phone buzz in my purse.

SAM:

Heyy babe. Went out for drinkz after the workout an not really able drive home. Slepng on Tim’s couch. Luv you. C U 2morw.

My face drops at the message.

“Sam not coming home again tonight?” Alexa asks.

I laugh. “Amazing how you always know what’s going on before I even say it. I’m just gonna head home and go to bed early. It’s been a hell of a day. See you tomorrow!”

We hug and head our separate ways.

As I get into my car, I feel my phone again. I pull it out expecting another text from Sam, but it’s a number I don’t recognize.

UNKNOWN:

Dani, it’s Gavin. Hoping this is still your number after all this time or someone’s about to be really confused. Here’s my new number. See you at work tomorrow.

I don’t know if it’s the emotional exhaustion of the day or what, but for some reason the text makes me smile.

Dammit. Stop it, emotions. We hate him, remember?

I quickly type out a reply.

ME:

Still my number. See you and our amazing ratings tomorrow.

Chapter 6

Dani

“Dani! Can you stop with the man-made earthquake?” Alexa yells.

“Huh, what?”

She points to my leg under the desk. I’m bouncing it so much, it’s making everything around us shake.

“Guess I’m a little nervous.”

“It’s going to be fine,” Alexa reassures me. “I’m sure the ratings are great, and Gavin is hiding in his office, too embarrassed to admit you were right.”