Page 71 of Mark my Words

Kris: Not just for what’s hidden under those work clothes, either.

Sam: My forearms?

Kristine: Maybe those too.

She missed me too. I could live with that.

Sam: Are you back in the office tomorrow?

Kris: You sound a little needy again, Sam.

Yeah, I know.

Sam: Where are you hiding out?

Kris: I’m not hiding.

Sam: Mmhmm.

Kris: I’m not. I’m visiting family.

Sam: You’re in NY?

Somehow, I had a feeling that wasn’t where she was, knowing she’d rather spend time with Adrian before she went to see her parents.

Kris: Ew. No. Visiting Nana at the Cape.

Sam: How very bourgeois of you.

Kris: Don’t make me spank you.

Sam: Is that supposed to be a deterrent?

Kris: There might be a paddle in that black box you keep trying to spy inside.

Sam: Sounds fun. ;)

The meeting with Chase and Evan was on Thursday, but I was meeting with a new author that Adrian had just signed tomorrow. She’d been hesitant to work with a traditional publisher, having self-published her first series of books, but we were hoping to take her work wider and expand her audience. Adrian wanted me to watch the process, certain that I’d get the promotion, and this would soon be part of my job duties.

I was still uncertain, knowing that as soon as I received the excerpt for the manuscript trials, I’d need to bring my A-game. The field was still wide open. Kristine and I were not the only copy-editing interns still in the running. We may have been a couple of stronger candidates, but we were out if the panel didn’t like our work.

Kris: I should be back home Wednesday. I’m sorry I’ve been quiet lately. It’s nothing you’ve done. I’m just working through some things.

I probably shouldn’t tell her I would anxiously await her return, but I knew I’d be watching that little red dot on the intraoffice messenger as I had been since last week. As soon as it was green, I wasn’t sure if I had enough self-control to stay away from her.

Sam: Enjoy the rest of your visit. I’m sure I’ll see you around the office this week. As long as you’re not still hiding from me.

My phone almost slipped through my hands when a text message notification from Kristine scrolled across the top of the screen.

Kristine: No more hiding. I’m trying.

I hoped that was true because I wasn’t sure how much more of this back-and-forth I could take before I cut my losses and walked away. My attraction to her was already making me do things out of character, trying to figure her out, but even I knew there was no way to force someone to love you if they didn’t.

KRISTINE

CAPE COD

The ferry was running behind—something about scheduled maintenance at the main dock in Boston Harbor taking longer than usual—which spelled disaster for returning to Boston in time for work today. I should have left on Tuesday night’s last ferry, but Nana had purposely misplaced her keys to keep me here longer. I felt terrible she was so desperate for company that she was lying to hold me captive, but I also knew Pietro would keep her plenty occupied.

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