host, am I? I just really needed a run this morning.”
He finishes chewing before answering. “Do you feel better now?”
I nod my head. “Yes. Much. Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
He shakes his head and hands me some toast. “I’m good, thanks. Found what I needed and helped myself. Do you have Jessie back with you tonight?”
“Yes. Jerry’s taking her to work this morning, and she’ll be coming back with me later. Thank you again for last night. You didn’t need to stay, but it was thoughtful.”
His eyes are sullen, and I can’t help feeling the guilt ripping at my insides. I really don’t want to hurt Michael. He’s such a kind-hearted man.
“It was my pleasure. I didn’t think it was a good idea to go running by yourself this morning, though. You could have asked me. I would have happily gone with you.”
I inwardly cringe at the thought. After what transpired just now, that would have been a very bad idea.
“It was okay. I had a running partner in the end, so he kept me company.”
Michael frowns. “Running partner?”
“His name’s Brian. He actually lives on the floor below with his partner.” He smiles and carries on eating his toast, the thought of a shower now screaming in my head. “I’m going to go get ready for work. Thanks for the toast, Michael.”
My shower was a bit longer than normal considering I felt like Jake was all over every pore of my skin. I went through the motions, getting dressed and ready then came out to find Michael sitting on the sofa waiting for me.
“Are you ready to go to work?” I ask.
“I’m not working this morning, so I’ll be making my way home.”
When I hug him, I wince when he stiffens a little, making me feel terrible all over again. Eventually, however, he relaxes and hugs me back.
“I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you being here for me, and I’m sorry I haven’t been a better friend to you.”
Michael pulls away and fixes his eyes on mine, his eyes soft and warm. “Please don’t blame yourself for what happened. I know exactly what you’re referring to, and it’s fine. Believe me. I want to forget it as much as you do and just move on. I don’t want it to ruin the friendship we have, okay?” I nod my head, feeling a little better. “Besides, you’re a crappy kisser, and I hated the way you grabbed at me. It was—quite frankly—fucking awful.”
Laughter erupts from both of us. “Yeah, you were pretty shit yourself.”
“Worst kisser I ever had.”
“Steady,” I warn, giving him a cheeky grin.
“Someone had to say it. Although, if you ever needed my services again, I’m sure I could sacrifice myself if duty called.”
I place a hand on my chest. “Oh, be still my beating heart,” I giggle as we head towards the door.
Michael makes his way home, and I swiftly get to the office where Jessie eagerly awaits, perched on her chair. “Good morning, Miss Lindsay, how are we today? Freshly fu—”
“Yes,” she interrupts. “And I have some good news on the night out front.”
I place my bag by my desk and sit down to listen. “Oh, please … do tell?”
She’s practically jumping in her chair with excitement, making me wonder what she has up her sleeve.
“Well, when I was at Jerry’s house, I told him about our proposed night out. He said to me that he has this rich client, and that one of the hotels he runs has a hall he hires out, normally for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Apparently, it has poles there for dancing. I thought we could stay there the night so we won’t have to worry about getting home. It’s in Fredericksburg, so about an hour away. That’s a bit too far to be getting home late from there. What do you think? I’ll tell the guys, and we can all chip in. Jerry says he knows the owner very well, so we should be able to get a good discount.”
It seems as though Jessie’s thought of everything. Could be fun, and I would like to have a night away from it all.
“Sounds great, how much are we talking here?”
She shakes her head. “You’re not chipping in. It’s your birthday bash. That wouldn’t be right.”
I’m about to argue when Jake turns up at our desks. “Who’s Mr. Brator?”
At first, Jessie frowns, but when all the pieces come together, she very nearly falls off her chair laughing.