Office Grump An Enemies to Lovers Romance - Nicole Snow Page 0,119
month’s rent for both of us, or having the extra space to work on my pretties without you around...”
She steps aside, revealing a...thinking cat sculpture?
It’s the only way I can describe it.
A big chubby life-sized meower sits on its haunches, one paw held up human-like to its head, pondering the meaning of life—or maybe just what’s for dinner.
“I see you’ve been busy,” I say flatly. “Glad you’ve taken up the mantle of crazy cat lady art, though, since I couldn’t carry the torch.”
Paige walks over and rubs the statue’s head with a maniacal grin.
Oof. I hope she’s not losing it for real since I started spending so much time away.
“Enough about me. I want to hear about you and Heron,” she whips out, bouncing back over.
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain, but I need carbs first.”
“Italiano?” Paige asks.
“Hell yes.”
Half an hour later, we pull up to Mattarello’s Italiano.
“We should invest in this place,” Paige says as we get out of the car. “Although we don’t come here as much as we should.”
“And I suppose that’s the Phantom Roommate’s fault?”
“I don’t know who else’s fault it could be.” Paige laughs.
The hostess seats us by a window glazed with the recent February thaws and vengeful refreezes, leaving behind a basket of warm bread and olive oil.
I grab a piece, tear it in half, and stick the smaller half in my mouth.
“Oh my God, this is good.” The words are out of my mouth before I’m done chewing it.
“They’re starving you too?”
“Nah, dinner’s just usually the only real meal I have time to eat,” I tell her.
“Maybe you should talk to Maggot or at least HR about that. You should be able to eat, Brina.”
I grin. “Don’t call my boyfriend Maggot.”
“Boyfriend?” Paige’s jaw drops. “You mean you...and him...holy shit. So that’s why you haven’t been home? I should’ve guessed. You look different.”
“Different how?” I scan the dining room to make sure no one else is paying attention to us. “Lower your voice. It’s kind of a secret.”
“I don’t know. Your face looks like...someone who gets a lot of screaming orgasms?” She bats her eyes.
I give back a death glare, even if she’s right on the money.
Her face grows serious. From the furrow in her forehead, I know I’m not going to like what comes next. “He’s your secret boyfriend, though? Whose idea was that?”
The server comes to our table. Thank God.
I have a few seconds to form a response, but let’s be real, there’s only one that makes sense.
“What are we drinking today?” the server asks.
“San Pellegrino, please,” I say.
“Make it two,” Paige chimes in.
“I’m ready to order,” I say, buying precious time.
Paige picks up the menu and studies it.
“Do you have lunch right now or just brunch?” I ask.
“We have brunch and the lunch menu,” the waitress tells me.
“Fettuccini Alfredo with a Caesar side salad,” I say.
“I’ll do French toast with Italian cream,” Paige says, licking her chops.
“Perfect, I’ll be right back with the drinks.” The server walks away.
“Where were we? Oh yeah—whose idea was this secret tryst?” Paige asks again, not skipping a beat, leaning forward with her chin perched on her hands.
I purse my lips. “I—well, the relationship just happened.”
She nods. “Of course. You wanted him from the second you met.”
“Did not! I spit on him, Paige, remember?”
She raises an eyebrow. “Did your mama ever tap the enemies to lovers trope? That’s you and Mr. Sex-In-A-Suit. You hated each other’s guts and now you’re knocking boots. How’d you reel him in?”
I roll my eyes so hard it hurts.
“I didn’t seduce him in the office like a bad adult flick if that’s what you’re thinking. I played it cool. He actually pissed me off to the core for a long time after that Arizona kiss...”
“Dude. You have no cool.”
I laugh at her deadpan delivery.
“Okay, well, it just happened. Organically. We tried to keep apart, but it was magnetic...then this big crisis came up, the one I mentioned to you before, and after that...” I trail off, my mind reeling.
How do I even explain my whole universe shifting in just two months?
“Blah blah blah, crisis. And then?” Paige asks.
“And what?” I squint in confusion.
The waitress comes back and sets a bottle of sparkling water next to each of us, and this time, I really hope she’ll distract Paige. I’m done with the interrogation.