Page 81 of The Wrong Promise

“Right.” Her eyes flick over my face as if searching for an answer. I’m not hiding anything. “When you’re together, do you have long and meaningful conversations?”

What is she getting at?

“Or is it about the sex? What is great about your time together?”

I spin away from her, feeling exposed. Jobe and I talk, but it’s not long and meaningful discussions because we aresimilar and like the same things. It’s quite the opposite. Our connection is great sex. I down the rest of my drink before turning back to her.

“I’m not attacking you, my friend,” she says. “I’m pointing out what the rest of us have noticed. I care about you.”

“The rest of you noticed? Am I a subject of gossip between our work colleagues?” When she doesn’t say anything, a bubble of anger grows in my chest.

“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter. “Our relationship is no one’s business. If it’s about the sex, so what? I’m an adult and in my mid-thirties and don’t need to answer to a bunch of twenty-somethings who have barely any experience with the world beyond their schooling.” I stand and grab my bag and coat. “Thanks for the concern. Have a fun day watchingthe gametomorrow.” I storm out of the bar, still in disbelief that everyone at work thinks Jobe gives me preferential treatment. I suddenly have lost all cheer about being in London.

Her words play out in my head until I exit the taxi. I look up to the terrace and tighten my coat around my neck. Too cold for him to be sitting outside tonight. Piper said it can snow over the holidays. I imagine there will be ample when I return.

The penthouse is dark, and I wonder if he is even home. I head to my room to change, and my first impulse is to search for Jobe, first in his room since that is where I spend my nights.

Piper’s words keep playing out in my head. Should I feel guilty that I love having sex with Jobe? Does it matter if we don’t have anything else in common and are just having fun? I flop onto the bed and close my eyes. Whenever I think about a future with him, I push it out of my head because I believe it would never happen. I snort out a laughto myself.Ridiculous thoughts. I picture myself in the future, my career intact, no Jobe. My chest hollows. Suddenly, I’m overwhelmed with sadness. My chest is tight, and my throat is dry.

We’re only having fun, and nothing has to change.

I cannot control my emotions. Ugh, it must be that time of the month. Speaking of, I’m sure I’m due. With that thought, I climb under the covers to prove to myself I don’t need to be with Jobe tonight.

Hours later, I wake feeling warm.

Safe.

An arm drapes over my waist, and the heat is radiating from behind me.

He climbed into my bed and didn’t wake me for sex. Jobe wanted only to hold me. A stupid grin creeps over my lips.

Wearegood together, and we don’t need long conversations to prove it.

It feelsright.

24

ZARA

Monday morning,I head into the office without first stopping by the café. There is a long list of tasks to complete before I fly home on Wednesday. Jobe and I remained in his penthouse on Saturday and Sunday. We watched movies, ordered food to be delivered from his favorite restaurants, and, in between, had sex, which sometimes led to staying in bed for hours.

“I need your help,” Trisha asks. She points to a box of tinsel. “This place needs some Christmas cheer, so wanna help me decorate the walls?”

“Sure.”

We take the elevator to the fifth floor. “Are you coming to the Christmas party on Friday night?” she asks.

“No, I’m heading back to California for the holidays to see my family. I heard the office party is the best.”

She giggles. “It’s a lot. Everyone gets drunk and basically spills all their secrets.”

“Office secrets or about their personal lives?”

“Personal,” she clarifies. “Not office gossip as most the time… nothing interesting happens here.”

“I’m sad to miss it.” Not the gossip part.

We loop the tinsel around handrails and over paintings on the walls. “We’ll have the workmen come in with ladders to finish decorating tomorrow. I wanted to get a start and gauge everyone’s mood.”

---