Page 40 of The Interns

“For leaving.”

“What?” It was laughable to him because there was no expectation of her to stay. She literally couldn’t with school starting again in a few weeks. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

They grew quiet again, finishing their drinks while enjoying their fancy corner office and view one last time. In just a few minutes, it was all over. He glanced down at Maya to see if she was ready to return to the party, but her eyes were brimming with tears as she looked out over the city.

“Maya.” Her name came out low and ragged.

“Shit,” she said under her breath. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m not crying.”

“I know,” he lied.

Seeing tears roll down her cheeks made his heart seize up and ache in his chest. She had gotten under his skin and worked her way into his heart this summer, and this rare glimpse of vulnerability from her meant that maybe he had worked his way into hers, as well. That was not something he took lightly coming from Maya Hendricks. Beyond staying to finish up their case, there wasn’t anything he could do to make this situation better. He could only try to make her feel better about it.

“Come here,” he whispered, opening his arms and taking a step toward her.

She kept her head down, but willingly walked into his embrace. He gathered her into his arms and pulled her against him. Her cheek rested against his chest, and he dropped his chin to the top of her head. They fit so perfectly together. If only he could hold on to her for a little while longer. Tell her about the feelings he’d started to have for her. But she wasn’t meant to be in his life beyond this summer, so there was no sense in complicating things between them.

“I’m really going to miss this,” she said quietly, again putting words to her emotions.

“I know,” he whispered. “Me too. You’re the best partner I’ve ever had, Hendricks.”

“Really?” Her voice had a hopeful lilt.

“Really. I think you know enough about me to know that I’ve worked with my share of difficult people. Some downright unlikable, dishonest people, actually. We didn’t have the best start, sure, but it didn’t take long to see how intelligent and driven you are. And how much you care about what you do. How you value fairness and integrity above all else. And how much fun we’d have working together once you finally loosened up a little. I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d crack,” he added with a grin.

“No, you didn’t,” she pushed back. He could hear the smile in her voice.

“I did. The second day you came into the office with your music playing, head bopping.” He smiled as she buried her face deeper into his chest to avoid being seen. He understood. It was easier to share these new feelings and truths without being face to face. “Turns out you weren’t so tough. You’re actually an undercover softie, Hendricks.”

“Yeah? If I’m soft, you’re totally squishy, Stanton.”

“Maybe I am.” Turns out, he definitely was for her. Now he understood why she didn’t let just anyone in on this side of her. It was rare and special. Something worth protecting. “So do we get to be friends after this, or do I have to lose your number?”

“You better not lose it,” she warned. “You’ve gotta keep me updated on the case, and, you know, everything else.”

He laughed. “I can do that.”

He felt a small laugh rumble through her body. “And Stanton?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re the first partner I’ve ever had, but you set the bar really high.”

The ache had disappeared and now warmth filled his chest and spread up to his cheeks. “I’ll take it. It means the world coming from you.”

He squeezed her tighter and they stayed that way for a few moments before he lifted his chin from her head and pulled away, letting his hands slide down her arms while he looked her over. The tears had stopped. He allowed his eyes to linger on her pretty face for a moment, appreciating the way it lit up when she smiled.

“You okay?”

She nodded and wiped away the dampness under her eyes. “Yeah.”

“Come on,” he said, giving her arms an encouraging squeeze. “You’ve got a bunch of people who want to send you off. You can’t go out like this.”

She nodded, agreeing to rejoin the party. He let his hands trace down her arms and was about to turn for the door when she caught his hand in hers.

“Thank you.”

He gave her a tight grin and squeezed her hand in return then pulled her along with him.

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