Page 19 of It Must Be Love

I slung my backpack on my shoulder. "I guess." I didn't look at him and wished he'd leave me the hell alone.

"This is your first Thanksgiving since your father passed."

He was stating facts, and I wasn't sure what he was getting at. "Yes."

"And Nolan and Kara didn't take you with them?"

I frowned. "Why would they? It's Kara's family. I don't know them very well." Or like them. Kara's parents and siblings were a lot like Kara.

I fidgeted with a strap of my backpack that was hanging down. "Do you need anything? Work wise? Ah…feedback about the meeting?" I wasn't sure what he was doing at my cubicle when the office was emptying fast and furious. Shouldn't he be on his way with Ann to New York?

"No, Naya, I have no feedback and I don't need anything from you."

He sounded angry, and I had no idea why. I couldn't figure this guy out. And I didn't even want to anymore. I was tired of being snapped at by people who had no reason to be rude to me. I was quiet. I minded my own business. I didn't cause drama. I was every bully's pet project!

"Okay, then. Have a great Thanksgiving. I'll see you next week."

He straightened as I walked past him out of my cubicle.

I was in the lobby, picking up my bicycle from the storage room there when I saw Amias again. He was talking to the security guard, his backpack with him.

I nodded at the security guard. "Have a great Thanksgiving, Fred."

"You too, Naya."

I looked outside and sighed. It was starting to snow. Good thing I had gotten winter tires on my bicycle two weeks ago because it was getting dangerous on the ice.

Amias surprised me again by joining me outside. I let the bicycle lean against me as I tightened my scarf and pulled my hat around my ears. It was gonna be a chilly ride!

"Naya, why don't you have a car?"

He was asking a whole hell of a lot of personal questions, and it made me uneasy. Was he just collecting information to tell his girlfriend so they could make fun of the drab fashion-less Naya? God, didn't these people have anything better to do?

"I like to bicycle," I replied.

"In this weather?"

I chuckled. "It's not always pleasant or fun. But I've got to get home."

"Are you not getting paid enough?"

"Excuse me?" I couldn't believe he'd said what he had. What business was it of his how I spent my money?

"I don't understand why you don't have a car."

"Because I don't want the car payments."

"Are you short of money?"

I sighed and felt irritation flare. "It's really none of your business." I was usually not rude, but he was pushing all my buttons.

"It is if you're not getting paid enough to even buy a car."

"I'm paying off my father's medical bills. Insurance didn't cover everything and so…until then I have to be careful. You pay me fine."

"I thought Nolan was helping you with that."

I couldn’t stop a laugh and then pursed my lips, regretting the outburst. "He and Kara just bought their house, and he doesn't have money to spare."

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