When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,46
reach for one of the to-go boxes and hand it to her. “Lunch.”
“You da best,” she chirps, opening the box. “Oh,” she moans, “that smells good.” She stares lovingly at the seared salmon and vegetables. She grabs the plastic fork and digs in. “Tastes even better. All the blowjobs for you, lover boy.”
I snort and am about to retort when Cade pokes his head in. “Something smells good.”
Thea squeaks and falls out of her chair, smack dab on her ass.
“Thea?” I ask worriedly. “Are you okay?” I dart over and offer her my hand.
Cade cackles from the doorway. “Didn’t mean to scare you, sis.”
Thea rolls her eyes and looks at me, shaking her head in disbelief. She places her hand in mine and I help her up. She promptly sits back down and digs into her food.
“Don’t even think about trying to steal a bite after that,” she tells Cade, pointing her fork at him.
He raises his hands innocently. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I was just swinging by to ask you guys if you wanted lunch, but it looks like you beat me to it.”
I shrug. “Sorry, man.”
He waves away my words. “S’okay. I’m going to head out on my own then. See you later.”
With that, he disappears from the office doorway.
“Thank God he didn’t hear my blowjob remark,” Thea says, her cheeks tinged pink. “I mean, I’m a pretty good liar but I don’t think I could bullshit my way out of that one.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Do you remember which file it is that my dad wanted? I’ll take it over to him before I eat.”
“He was asking about the Ferguson account. I searched all the files on your desk and I couldn’t find it on your computer.”
“Oh, that one? It’s right here.” I pick up a folder from the table that sits behind my desk.
I chuckle and smack the file lightly on top of her head as I pass. “It’s okay. You were flustered.”
“I still can’t believe I told your dad to go fuck himself.” She buries her face in her hands. “I’m the literal worst.”
“No, you’re not—maybe the funniest, but not the worst.” I wink and then head down the hall to my dad’s office. He’s busy on the phone so I lay the folder on his desk and he gives me a thumbs up.
Back in my office, I eat and catch up on emails I missed while I was at practice. It’s tedious and annoying, and yet another reminder of why I need to be honest with my parents. The fact that I’m twenty-two and acting like a scared sixteen-year-old kid is kind of hysterical.
I pack up for the day, and Thea does the same. “Can I ride home with you?” she asks.
I raise a brow. “Aren’t you worried about raising suspicions?”
She purses her lips. “I suppose I should, but I don’t really give a fuck. If I have to ride another hour in the car with Cade when I really want to be with you, I might die.”
I don’t call her on her melodramatics, frankly because I’m so pleased that she wants to be with me.
I nod. “You can ride with me then.”
Her smile is blinding and she runs over planting a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you,” she sing-songs, before running out and expecting me to follow.
We pass by Cade’s office and she pokes her head in to tell him that she’s riding home with me. He’s so absorbed in what he’s doing that he merely nods and motions us on, mumbling that he’s going to be late anyway.
As soon as we enter the elevator and the doors close, she reaches for my hand. My chest fills with happiness at the gesture. It’s such a simple thing but I’m so used to being the one that reaches for her when we’re in public and in the last five minutes she’s kissed my cheek and now holds my hand.
It’s small, but it’s progress, and it gives me hope for what’s to come.
“You two look cozy,” Rae comments with a raised brow.
Thea and I sit on the couch side by side, under a blanket, watching Charmed. Her head is on my shoulder and I suppose we do look “cozy” in the way she implies, but we’ve always done stuff like this.
Thea glances at her friend with narrowed eyes. “I don’t miss your implication, Rae. We’re just watching a show, like we always do.”