Wouldn’t you, gentlemen?”
“Of course.”
“Definitely.”
Satisfied, Greg gives a brisk nod then continues on his way, leaving us alone to sort out our shit. Alexandra, however, hasn’t moved an inch as her eyes bounce between me and Asshat Conner like a damn pinball.
“Levi, will you please come to my office so we can work out a few of the details for the Jelani Arts Center opening?” The edge in her voice encourages me not to argue, even though I want nothing more than to shove Conner outside and hit him in the face.
It was only a kiss. A kiss that I practically forced to happen. But still.
My nostrils flare, and my fists squeeze at my sides.
“Levi?” Alexandra presses.
I give her a single, jerky nod. “Sure thing.”
The click-clack of her heels battle the buzzing in my ears as she guides me to her office. Once I’m inside, she closes the door behind me then motions to the chair opposite her desk.
“Take a seat.”
I do as I’m told and rest my ass against the edge of the seat.
“So,” she begins, lacing her perfectly manicured fingers on top of her pristinely organized oak desk. When I notice her professionally colored nails, I can’t help but compare them to Charlie’s. Hers wouldn’t last a week with polish. And I don’t think I’d have it any other way.
“What the hell was that out there?” she asks, grabbing my attention from her intertwined fingers.
“Like you said,” I mutter. “Private stuff.”
“Did it happen to have anything to do with a pretty girl from Get Baked?”
Brows raising in surprise, I shift in my seat. “How did you know?”
“I overheard Conner talking about it a few days ago. How long has he been dating your friend?”
“They’re not dating,” I practically growl.
“Conner seems to think differently. And by the way you’re reacting, I’m going to say you’re not okay with it.”
Bristling, I stare back at her. “Isn’t this a little personal for the office?”
“Like I said in the main area, private topics can be discussed as long as they’re privately discussed.” She lifts her chin to the closed door. “And this seems private enough. What’s going on, Levi? How can I help?”
With a subtle shake of my head, my shoulders hunch, and I slump back into the chair. “Not sure there’s much you can do. I made a huge mistake.”
“And what mistake was that?”
I open my mouth to tell her, but she cuts me off.
“Actually, let me guess. You let your friend slip through your fingers. And after seeing her date someone else, you’ve finally realized how badly you screwed up. And now you’re trying to wrap your head around the fact that the girl of your dreams is in the arms of another man. Am I close?”
Ugh.
When she puts it like that, I get the overwhelming urge to bang my head against a wall.
“Yup,” I reply, bluntly. “Sounds about right. How the hell did you know I had a thing for her, though?”
“Classic best friend scenario. Besides, I saw how you looked at her when I was at the bakery. In all honesty, I’m surprised you didn’t see it for yourself. What’s your story?”
My story? How the hell do I sum up twenty-three years of life into a few mere sentences?
Clearing my throat, I try. “My dad left right after I was born, and daycares are expensive as hell, so my mom would take me with her to clean houses and do odd jobs for people like cooking and babysitting little kids around the neighborhood while the parents went out. Then Charlie’s mom died, and her dad needed to go to work still, so the two of them figured out an arrangement where she would watch Charlie during the day for a bit of money. Charlie was only, what? Three or so?” I laugh dryly as memories of the little girl who would follow me everywhere assault me. She was a cute little shit. “Anyway, we did everything together and became best friends. I basically looked at her like my little sister, who was less annoying than the ones my friends always complained about.”
“Then you both grew up,” Alexandra surmises.
“Yeah. We did.”
“And you realized you didn’t like other boys touching her.”
“I didn’t think I cared,” I reply honestly. “I know that’s an asshole thing to say, but it’s the truth. Hell, I thought she did date, but she was just better at keeping it hidden than I was. And I was okay with that. I didn’t really like the idea of