Page 102 of Rich and Bossy

He takes his time answering, picking at part of his bagel.

I’ll give him all the time he needs, and not only because I know whatever he has to say is going to hurt. It’s the way things need to be, but that won’t make it any easier.

“I’ve been trying to find a way to figure all this out.” His voice is heavy, telling me whatever he’s thinking isn’t very easy to put to words. “Like, I get the other night. Why you couldn’t say anything. I was angry at first, but I know in my heart that night was real. There’s no way it was anything other than that.”

I grin a little as he says it, because it’s true.

“And it’s a tough position I’m in. I just want to try to do what’s best for the workers at the warehouse. Just know, whatever I do, it’s the least worst thing I can do, for all of you over there. Not just for you.” He looks me right in the eye. “I’m serious. Whatever happens, it would’ve been a million times worse, if I didn’t care. That’s the best I can offer.”

I sit there, staring at my bagel for a long time. “Okay.”

“You sure?” His eyes are back on me.

“You trust me about our date night. The night before it all happened.” I shrug a little. “I have to trust you with this. I do trust you with this.”

“Good, because I’m a terrible liar. You’d know if I was lying to you.”

“I still don’t see how it’ll work.” Maybe it’s the wild schedule Campbell has me on, plus work hours, plus school—which I’ve been neglecting—but I can’t make any sense of this. “It’s going to end up hurting you. If you take the path of least resistance.”

“Hurting my professional life and hurtingmeare not the same thing,” he reminds me with a stern look. “Nobody will get hurt by making things a little fairer at the warehouse, other than people who can afford to hurt a little. So, if they can’t deal with that, they have to do what they have to do.” He looks away. “They’re fucking pricks anyway.” He mumbles the last part to himself.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything, just do what you need to do and don’t worry about me. I need you to trust me, Hazel. That’s the only fucking thing I’m sure of right now. Everything else is all over the place, and I need that. I’ll fall apart without it.”

Wow. His words hit me right in the chest. None of this is what I expected. I nod a few times. “Okay, I trust you.”

“Good.” He smiles before taking another bite of his bagel. “You really should try the salmon cream cheese. It’s excellent.”

“Nasty. I’ll stick with plain, thank you very much.”

He laughs.

Right now, I couldn’t care less about what flavor cream cheese is best. “You’re not just saying all this because of last night, are you?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.

Now, his eyes harden on me. “What? Like I’m thinking with my dick?”

“I mean…” I look away at the wall, likeit could be a possibility.

“I was going to tell you this before everything happened. Actually, I was going to tell you more than that.”

“Like what?”

He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“No, tell me.”

“I was going to suggest we take a break. Until this is done with. Not because I fucking want to, but because I think that’s what would be best for you. I’m trying to do what’s right. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Wow. Now, that’s a lot to take in all at once.

“When I saw you, I couldn’t help it, though.” He stands up, pacing around. “I’m not… I don’t think clearly around you.” He turns, his eyes pleading. “I’m trying right now. Really hard. I just want you to know that.”

“I do know it.” God, I am falling for him even harder than I thought.

You already fell, long ago.

“Look, I’ll make sure the vote is fair. Is that enough? Because that’s the best I can do, and I’m going to have to work some fucking absolute magic to make it happen.”

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