Faker - Sarah Smith Page 0,57
the arms of the chair. I need to get out of here and rush back to Tate so I can explain how that stuffed bear means nothing.
“Also, Will and I want talk to you about a different matter. I meant to meet with your first thing this morning, but the gift delivery distracted me.”
She pulls her glasses off and inhales, like she’s about to break bad news. I cease breathing.
“Brett from Service and Repairs has been fired. Now, we wouldn’t normally divulge information about a firing to another employee, but this concerns you.”
Lynn looks to Will, who clears his throat.
“Tate brought to the managers’ attention a couple weeks ago that Brett was speaking about you inappropriately. He overheard him in the break room and reported it to me and Brett’s boss. The language used was lewd and unacceptable. Tate demanded that Brett be fired, but we had to investigate first,” Will says.
Lynn nods along. “We discovered this wasn’t an isolated incident. Apparently, Brett made inappropriate comments to a couple of other female employees.”
“Wait, what?” I’m light headed. This is information overload.
“I know this is difficult to hear. You’re a young lady working at a mostly male company.” Lynn sighs. “Tate was on our case the entire time we investigated. It was a bit much at times how often he would check up on it, but I can certainly understand where he was coming from.”
My head is spinning. Tate demanded that Brett be fired for me? I shake my head, hoping it somehow centers me and I can come up with a well-worded reply. It doesn’t.
“That’s a shocker,” I say.
Lynn folds her hands on her lap. “I suppose it is. However, given how he took care of you when you fell on the worksite, I don’t think it’s a shock at all.” She gives what I think is a knowing look, but it disappears before I can be sure.
This impromptu meeting has me feeling like I’m riding a roller coaster with no safety bar. I look to both Will and Lynn. “I appreciate you telling me.”
I shoot up from the chair, shut the door to Will’s office behind me, and leap to Tate’s doorway. He’s glowering at a photo of a chain saw on his computer screen.
“We need to talk.”
“I’ll forward you the chain saw info in a minute.” He keeps his eyes on the computer. His harshness is back.
“No, not that. I need to talk to you right now.” The words punch out of my mouth in a harsh whisper. I glance behind to Will’s office door. “Not here. Come on.”
I speed walk down the hall to the stairwell door. I open it and point for him to step in. The metal door clanks shut, and we’re left standing at the landing at the top of the stairs, silently staring at each other.
“That gift, it’s not what you think.” The waterlines of my eyes burn. I can’t cry. Not here, not now.
His arms rest at his sides, each fist clenched. His face is a sheet of white steel. “I don’t think anything.”
“Yes, you do. That’s why you’re upset.”
“I’m not upset.” His strained tone gives away his lie.
“Stop it. I’m going to call Jamie later and clear things up. I’m not interested in him in that way.”
“Based on that adorable stuffed bear, he may need some serious convincing.” His bitter tone makes my throat squeeze.
I grab his arm and pull him away from the door, hoping the few extra inches will serve as effective insulation, because I don’t want anyone overhearing us. We’re so close that if I move my arm in front of my body, I’d graze his.
“Tate, you stayed with me at the hospital. I bathed next to you. I spent almost every day with you this past week and a half. We’ve been texting every single day. I thought it was clear just how much I like you.”
He crosses his arms, the defensiveness melting from his face.
“Look, I’m not sorry for chatting with Jamie or getting to know him or having a drink with him. That happened before this stuff with us.”
He starts to shake his head, but I stop him.
“You’re mad about all that. Or jealous. Don’t try to deny it.”
His jaw clenches, and I can count every muscle pressing against his skin. He’s frustrated. So am I. But all I want to do is take his face in my hands, touch his jaw muscles one by one, and kiss him. What a mix of emotions he