Nerdy Nurse: Such a nerd answer.
Me: Looks like we’re a match then.
Nerdy Nurse: I was hoping for more … alpha.
Me: I hate that modern society thinks nerds can’t be alphas. Who runs the world? Who wields the true power in the universe? Nerds. We just don’t go flexing around about it.
Nerdy Nurse: Sounds like the start of a syndrome …
With my foot on the brake, I shift into reverse but still don’t back out.
Me: Are you talking medical to me? Let’s go back to the dirty part. I liked that better.
Nerdy Nurse: Bye.
Me: Don’t get cold feet on me now. I was just getting going.
Nerdy Nurse: You’re exhausting.
Me: You’re still responding.
Nerdy Nurse: You’re so full of yourself.
Me: Bet you wish you were full of me.
/Nerdy Nurse offline
My phone hits the leather seat beside me with a thud.
As I wait on the garage door to open, thoughts of Nerdy Nurse begin to fade away. They’re replaced with thoughts of work and, most importantly, what I’m doing on my lunch break.
I just hope there’s peanut butter icing involved.
Two
Mariah
“Let me be clear about one thing …”
“No, let me be clear about one thing,” I say, whirling through the doors of my office, my voice leading the way. “Get out of my office, Lance. Now.”
Shoulders thrown back, lips pressed together just as firmly as my arms clench across my breasts, I say a silent prayer my demonstration is enough to convince him I mean business. Then, I do what I always do: brace for his attack.
His free hand clasps the back of his neck, toying with the edges of his hairline, which is sharp from a fresh cut at the barber shop. He runs his palm around the side of his throat as he releases a low, amused chuckle. “Jessa, I’m going to have to call you back.”
“You don’t have to call her back,” I say, aware my voice is projecting a few octaves louder than usual or necessary. “You just have to take it somewhere else.”
Three.