Page 34 of Why Not Both?

I nod. “I’ll get you the list first thing in the morning.” I drop my head back and close my eyes.

“You guys want to go out for a drink before heading home?” he asks.

I groan. “Not on your life. I’m going home to bed.”

Spencer’s hands pause their massaging and then continue. My heart rate kicks up for a second as well as I realize what I’ve said and what he’d thought of. Us. Going to bed together.

But then he breathes out a sigh and says, “Me too, man. I’m beat. Fucking bridezillas.”

Derek laughs as he straightens, draining the last of his coffee. “You’re the one who wanted to deal with the clients. That’s why I work in acquisitions. I deal with you and Lis. You guys get to deal with the people who pay us.”

“Not me,” I say, not bothering to open my eyes. “Spencer can do all that. I don’t want to talk to people. People are idiots.”

“Yeah they are,” Derek says. “I’m going to need a high five on that.”

I raise my hand and he slaps it, but I still don’t open my eyes.

“Well. See you guys tomorrow. Get me that list as soon as you can, Lis.”

Then he leaves.

“Come on, firecracker. Let’s get you home. You want to take an Uber?”

“Seems a waste of money to do that.”

“It’s late and you’re exhausted. I’ll pay for it.”

I open my eyes then. I’m not sure what I’m going to say—possibly protest that he doesn’t need to pay for something I don’t really need—but I end up saying nothing because he holds up a hand to stop me.

“Let me make sure you get home safe. Please.”

My heart tugs at his concern.

“You can’t pay for my ride home every night after work,” I say. “It would be way too much money.”

“Don’t worry about my money, Lis. I can afford a few rides if it means you get home safely.”

“And you do the same for Vic or Adalie?”

“Vic and I usually walk home together if we’re here this late. And Adalie takes transit. I know which bus she takes. It stops right at the corner here and then right in front of her building.”

“So then why don’t you want me to take transit? The bus that Adalie took from the corner goes right to my building as well.”

“I know where you both live, and I hate to say it, but her neighbourhood is a little bit safer than yours.”

I can’t argue with that. It’s Friday night and there are usually drunks wandering around, sometimes even throwing up on the sidewalk outside the building. It’s a nice—and affordable—pet-friendly apartment. But the area leaves a lot to be desired.

“We can take transit if you want,” Spencer says. “But I’d like to come with you, if that’s okay.”

“That’s okay.”

We stand and he tucks my hair behind my ear. I’m completely lost in his crystal blue eyes. Then he steps back and says, “You got a jacket?”

I grimace. “I forgot one. But it’s not a long bus ride. I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can wear my hoodie again.” He moves off to get it from where I left it in his office earlier.

When he returns, I say, “I can’t keep borrowing your clothes.”

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