say anything, and I cringed and sank down in my seat. I glanced at my computer and blew out a breath. “I should get back to work.”
“All right. See you at lunch.” Deanna walked out but not before hesitating at the doorway, and I caught her mouthing something to Bruce.
After she left, I looked at Bruce, who was shuffling paperwork on his desk. “What did she just mouth to you?”
He laughed. “She doesn’t believe your story.”
Great. Just great.
“Oh, well, whatever. I can’t help that.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Bruce said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “We’re just teasing.”
“I’m not worried.”
“No? Then why are you so red?”
He had a point there. I shifted in my seat and pushed my feelings of uneasiness with this situation as far away as I could. “Fine. I’m embarrassed at all the teasing, but it doesn’t mean anything.”
“I know.” He sat up straighter, his expression turning serious all of a sudden. “The women in this office have always ogled Easton, but no one has been crazy enough to take it further than that, and you’re much too sensible to carry on with the boss. I’m not worried.”
That almost sounded like a warning. Like the situation concerned him, and he wanted me to heed his words.
I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, back to work.”
When it was time for lunch, I decided to get out of the office on my own without Deanna or Bruce or anyone else. I needed to think and couldn’t do that with either of them teasing and bugging me about our boss. Besides, I still didn’t know if I should have dinner with Easton tonight or if I should tell him I had other things to do. While I sat in my car eating a chicken sandwich from a local fast-food joint, another text popped up from Easton.
Where’d you go? Your office buddies are in the lunchroom but you’re not here.
I sighed and quickly typed a response. Just wanted some time to myself today.
His response came through a minute later. Understandable. I feel that way too at times. What about this evening? Are we still on? Or are you sick of me yet? He added an emoticon with its eyes crossed and its tongue sticking out.
My finger hovered over my phone as I considered what to say next. I lifted up a quick prayer. Lord, I’m not sure how to handle this. Help me not to make a big mistake.
Something told me to be direct without addressing the real issue. I’m surprised you still want to get together when you think I contacted George about you. Maybe we should take a break for a while if it’s causing awkwardness.
Five minutes passed and then ten, and the anticipation of what he would say next was starting to get to me. Just answer already. When my phone dinged with another text, my stomach twisted, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
I don’t want to take a break. Do you?
A jolt went through me, and my eyes widened as a million thoughts raced through my head. Did that mean he had feelings for me too? Or maybe he cared about our friendship and was willing to endure my little crush for the sake of getting along. Or perhaps it was more than that. Maybe he liked the attention but didn’t feel the same way about me. Ugh. There were too many scenarios, and I didn’t know which was closest to the truth.
In any other situation, I would risk having the talk, knowing I could distance myself if he didn’t have feelings for me, but I worked for the man. He was my boss, and I needed this job. More specifically, I had to keep the health benefits that came along with it.
And then I remembered why I hadn’t considered a relationship with him or any other man, and I blinked, realizing how stupid it was to agonize over something that couldn’t happen, anyway. In the midst of my dopamine rush, I’d forgotten the reason for my hesitation in the first place. I had too much baggage. My future was uncertain, which meant I couldn’t be with Easton, but we could remain friends if I could handle it.
It all boiled down to one thing. Could I continue a friendship with Easton while managing these crazy feelings? If the answer was yes, then having dinner wouldn’t be a problem. But if I couldn’t… Well, I would have to avoid him