Page 25 of Playing My Rivals

I stand to meet her at her level, hoping to connect with her like we used to. “Nobody saw me touch your hand, so you can quit worrying.”

“I wasn’t worried. It's just that this is a professional place and I don’t want anyone to think anything different.” She begins to turn with a chill emanating from her.

I stop her. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m fine, Jami. Is that what you want to hear?” Her eyes connect with mine. She holds a shield over hers I’ve never seen before.

What is wrong with her?

“I want to hear the truth and telling me you’re fine isn’t it.” I march to the door and close it.

She comes flying toward me in near panic. “Why did you do that?”

I block her from opening the door. “I want to have a real check-in with you. And not one where you’re clipped with your response. We’ve been friends for a long time and I can tell when something is bothering you. Why don’t you give me five minutes and tell me about it?”

She stops in front of me. “Like I said, I’m fine. Come to think of it, I’m better than fine.”

“Then why have you been so short with me? If I’ve done something to upset you, please let me know. I don’t like this tension between us.”

It’s a loaded statement. Everything that I said to her that night in my apartment hangs between us and I want that shield in her eyes gone, so I inch closer to her. She slinks away from me.

“Jami, you told me you didn’t want anything with me and now I’m moving on. The way that works best for me is to be stronger with my boundaries when it comes to you.” Her gaze moves across my face, but that damn shield still stands.

Those sound like Hunter’s words, not hers.

I keep my stare fixed on hers. It’s time she owns up to her feelings.

“I never said I didn’t want anything with you, Dori. My exact words were that I can’t be with you when I know you love someone else.”

“Those can’t be your exact words because I never said I loved him.” She steps aside, flips her hair over her shoulder, and returns to her desk.

Nowhere near done, I follow her. “Okay, you have me there, but you didn’t have to say the words for me to know what you feel for him. I know you and can see it in your eyes.”

“Why are you talking about this?”

“I asked how you are and you brought up the topic of us. And since when have you worried about having stronger boundaries around me? You know I’d never do anything to make you step out of your integrity.”

“But I have.” She bites down on her lip and goes to the window, hugging herself. “Hunter thinks you look at me in a certain way and suggested I work on distancing our friendship.”

I knew it.

“Forget Hunter. Is that what you want?” I go to her side, trying to hang on to a shred of what we have.

She glances at me and then shakes her head. “You and I will always be friends, but that’s it.”

I nod just as the door opens. No knock, just a wide-open view of Hunter peering in as if he was going to catch us in an embrace.

“Hunter. We were just talking about the steps in the next phase.” Dori straightens her skirt and faces him.

I roll my eyes, turn, and return to my desk.

“What was that look for, Jamison?” Hunter's confronting gaze connects to mine as he steps in and closes the door behind him.

Something tells me I’m in for a “keep out of our relationship” talk.

“What look would that be, Hunter?” I ask.

“Like that’s not what you were talking about.” He strides close to me with heat growing around him.

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