Page 27 of Anything To Be With You

"Ma!"

"Don’t you Ma me or I will bring you to work with me. Archer won’t mind. Ain’t that right Archer."

"That’s not appropriate, Daniella."

"I don’t wan—wait. Are you on the phone with your boss?" Mason asks.

"Yes, I am. Because, like you, he also can’t tell time. Bed."

A door slams and there’s movement of fabric.

"The only good thing about you calling me this late is the fact that I caught my son sneaking into the house. Do you need anything else?" Dani yawns for a third time.

"No."

"Wonderful. If you think of anything else, do it yourself. I need sleep to be able to deal with you." She hangs up on me.

Hello Gorgeous

Luke

I get to the office at quarter to eight, unlocking the door and turn on the lights. I walk into my office, placing my messenger bag on my desk when the main door open.

"Lucas?" a voice like razor blades calls.

A voice I used to find sweet. A voice I used to loved hearing.

I step out of my office. "Why are you here?" I demand.

She rushes over to me. "I haven't been able to get a hold of you. Every time I called, it went straight to voicemail. I started getting worried." Sarah says, putting her hands on my chest.

Her touch doesn’t give me the same thrill as it once did. Instead, it makes my skin crawl as if I'm covered with thousands of ants.

"Did it ever occur to you that I don’t want to talk to you?" I say, removing her hands and backing up.

"I thought something horrible happened to you. You need to keep in touch with me, Lucas."

"No, I don't. You lost that privilege when you left me for someone else."

The main door opens, and Dani storms in, heading straight for me. She squeezes between Sarah and me.

"I have a bone to pick with you," she pokes my chest. "I spent the whole evening with you, only to have you wake me up in the middle of the night because you needed something that could’ve waited until I got in today." She pokes me again, harder this time. "But oh no, when Luke Archer wants it, you must give it to him right away. Well, don’t get pissed off at me if I fall asleep at my desk. I am exhausted. You’re exhausting." Dani gives my chest one last poke before heading towards the break room.

Rage contorts Sarah’s face. "You and her! Is she the reason you’re not returning my calls? Because you’re with her!" she shrieks.

Dani walks out with my mug and shoves it into my hand. "I hope you choke on it." Dani seethes and brushes past me, siting at her desk.

Sarah looks between us, the sharp sting of flesh connecting with flesh takes me by surprise. "How could you Lucas! Don’t I mean anything to you!" she cries, stomping out and slamming the door behind her.

I turn to find Dani checking her nails. "Looks like I’m not the only woman who’s pissed at you," she deadpans. Dani opens her email and shoots a nasty look over the monitor. I might have sent her seven emails last night for her to work on today.

I raise my mug in salute and head into my office, shutting the door behind me. I sit behind my desk and place my cell in front of me.

"5…4…3…2…1…" my cell rings. "Gabe."

"Duuuuuuuuude!" he roars. "You and Dani?"

"There’s nothing going on between Daniella and myself," I inform him.

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