Page 119 of Debugging Love

“It’s for drowning out the noise on top of the noise. And it’s not doing very well. Which is why I need a break. Wanna come?”

“Only if you take that thing off.”

He pulls the pillow off his head. His upper lip is sweaty and his hair is even wilder now. I resist the urge to run my fingers through it. No one here knows Chance and I kissed except for Morgan and Kayla. The last thing I need is for my coworkers to start spreading rumors. Are Chance and I a thing? I have no idea.

“I suppose I could stand a break.”

He wipes his lip, takes a long swig of Coke, and then we’re off. In the lobby, he asks me where I want to go.

“We could walk by the harbor.” It’s not too hot today. I think we might survive. After an hour in that Ostrichpillow, eighty degrees probably feels great to Chance.

We head to Murray Boulevard, passing the edge of White Point Garden along the way before turning onto the sidewalk overlooking the harbor. White Point Garden’s harbor frontage stretches to the left while the murky waters of Charleston Harbor glisten on the right. The waves are small today, fueled by the gentle breeze and industrial shipping traffic.

“What days do you think you’ll be in the office?” Chance asks.

“Morgan, Kayla, and I were discussing it on Teams. We’re not sure. They don’t want to do Monday or Friday, so that leaves midweek. What about you?”

He glances down at me. “I was going to wait to see when you were coming in. If you don’t mind.”

I bump him with my shoulder.

“Does that mean you don’t mind?”

I bump him again.

“Hey.” He grabs my arm.

“Of course, I don’t mind.”

“Because I thought…” He shrugs slightly and then lets go. “Never mind.”

We continue walking. Rather than stuffing his hand back into his pocket, he trails his fingers along the inside of my arm. I thread my fingers through his. My coworkers aren’t here to see it. No harm done.

We breathe in the salty air that carries hints of decomposing fish and blooming algae. After rounding the corner of Murray and Battery, Chance speaks up again.

“Do you think Morgan and Drew are going to last?”

I rest my head against Chance’s shoulder as we stroll along the water’s edge. “I don’t know. Morgan is lively and outgoing, and Drew doesn’t use contractions.”

“I’ve noticed that.”

“It’s a little strange.”

“That’s just Drew.”

“Yeah, it is. And he’s not going to change. And Morgan isn’t going to change. They might be too different.”

“They both like to code.”

“Morgan secretly hates it.”

“Oh.”

Two seagulls fly overhead, one in pursuit of the other. The trees of White Point Garden give way to historic houses that are way out of my budget, but wow, they have a nice view.

Chance stops and leans against the metal railing. He tugs me closer. “What about us?”

The breeze bathes me in his cologne. I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face against his chest. “I don’t know, what about us?” I ask coyly. Whatever is on his mind, he has to say it. I’m not finishing his thought.

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