Page 180 of Dear Rosie

I lift my face from behind Charles and mouthCindy.

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN

NATE

Cindy steps closer, intruding, even though she can clearly see I’m on the phone with someone. And the fact that I’m on a video call should tell her it’s personal, which is even less of a reason to interrupt.

I keep the phone facing myself but lift my eyes to meet hers. “Oh, hey. I’ll be just a minute.”

It’s vague and will probably annoy Rosie, making her wonder what I’ll talk to Cindy about, but if she’s annoyed, then maybe she won’t be so sad. I’ll take her irritation over her guilt.

“Of course.” Cindy smiles. “Didn’t mean to intrude. Just thought we could catch up.”

I look back down at my phone and see the scowl on Rosie’s face.

“I’ll let you go,” she says flatly.

Her words sting because I never want Rosie to let me go. But I know that’s not what she means, so I wink at her.

“Don’t forget your promises,” I tell her.

Rosie continues to glare at me, and Charles turns away from the screen. “Have a nice catch-up.”

She really is just as obsessed with me as I am with her.

And knowing that, I decide to distract her even more.

“Bye, Beautiful. Love you.” Then I hang up.

ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN

ROSALYN

My jaw drops. And the screen goes blank.

Did he…?

I look down at Charles, who is looking up at me. “Did that motherfucker seriously just say he loves me?”

Charles purrs.

And I burst into tears.

ONE HUNDRED TWENTY

NATE

I slip my phone into my pocket and feel victory at both the look on Rosie’s face before I hung up and the uncomfortable look on Cindy’s face now.

I don’t want to talk to Cindy.

We’ve flirted some in the past—I flirt with everyone—but that’s all it’s ever been, because I don’t fuck where I work.

My mind flashes back to yesterday, when I was face fucking Rosie in my office, and heat stirs in my gut.

I push those memories away, not wanting lust to show on my face, giving the woman in front of me the wrong idea.

“Was that your… girlfriend?” Cindy asks, like the idea itself is absurd.

---