Page 5 of The Bonus

“Do you have a dog?” the guy asks.

“No, I wish.” I keep ruffling up the dog’s ears. “What’s his name?”

“Dusty.”

I giggle. “Hello, Dusty.”

“You should get a dog,” the guy tells me.

“I will one day, when I buy a house in the suburbs.” I smile.

“One day?” He frowns.

“When I get my act together.”

Code for when I get over him.

“You should do it now,” the guy says.

I shrug.

“What are you waiting for, life is now. Decide what you want and take it.”

I smile sadly. “I wish.”

“Don’t wish for it. Do it. If you want a house in the suburbs, save and buy one. You never regret the things that you do, only the things that you didn’t.” He throws the ball and Dusty takes off after it. “Catch you later.”

“Bye.” I frown after him as he runs off.

You never regret the things that you do, only the things that you didn’t.

Hmm…

8:20 a.m., and I inhale deeply to calm the beast within.

I’m furious.

Like a cornered animal waiting to strike.

Mr. Ferrara didn’t come back from lunch yesterday. He messaged me to say he was taking the rest of the day off and to cancel all appointments.

Must have been some lunch date, he’s never done that before.

This is it, she’s the one. It’s finally happening, and I have no one to blame but myself.

Stupid fucking fuckface.

I hate him, I hate everything about him.

I collect my calendar and pen and knock on his door. “Come in,” his deep voice purrs.

I open the door and with one look at him, I melt into a puddle of patheticness. He’s just gotten out of the shower; the towel is around his waist. Water is beading all over his skin, and his black hair is hanging in curls. “Good morning, my Gracie.” He smiles.

My eyes drop to his big red lips, and I want to stab my eyes out with my pencil.

Anything to stop me seeing this perfection.

“Good morning, Gabriel,” I reply. “Last time I looked, I was not your Gracie.”

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