Page 21 of Revved up & Ready

Between the throbbing behind my eyes and a general sense of wooziness, this hangover is determined to make sure I remember each and every tequila shot. Maybe this is karma for lying about being sick yesterday.Or, it’s just the consequences of my own day-drinking.

A text from Allie lights up my phone, but I’m determined to focus on the meeting today, so it’ll have to wait. I don’t miss it when my manager asks me a question, and I actually have an answer ready this time.

“It’s been moving more quickly than expected—” My words cut off, distracted by the fact that Cam is suddenly standing next to me.I didn’t even hear him come in.I try to ignore him until I can put myself on mute. “More quickly than expected. We’re close to wrapping up—” I lose my train of thought completely when he leans in close, resting one hand on the back of my chair and setting a hot cup of coffee on the desk right in front of me. I look up and find him sporting a completely unapologetic smile.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he whispers—not meaning a word of it—then leans in even closer andkisses the top of my head. The casual affection has my stomach flip-flopping, but he walks out of the room like bringing me coffee and kissing me in front of all my coworkers is the most natural thing in the world.

Oh shit. My coworkers.

Lifting my newly delivered coffee mug to the camera, I say, “Sorry about that. Forgot my coffee.” Through some miracle of self-composure I don’t usually possess, I manage to pick up exactly where I left off and give a solid answer to the question.

Fortunately, the camera on my computer isn’t good enough to betray the pink that’s flooded my cheeks. My likeness is surrounded by my coworkers’ little video boxes—a few of them staring down at their phones, but almost everyone else is smiling. Except for Hanna, whose mouth is agape.

That’s what this was. He did that for Hanna.At some point yesterday—after tequila shot three or four, but before our Thai food was delivered—I filled him in on as much of the story with Jared as I could handle repeating. He knows Hanna is going to run back to Kelee and tell her everything she just saw. Between that and the photo Cam posted last night, Jared will be able to put it together.

This just might work.

Once it’s finally not my turn to talk anymore, I check Allie’s text.

Allie: Cam just texted me to ask how you take your coffee. Told you you’d be the cutest roomies who ever roomied!

My first sip of the drink confirms her words—sweet enough that most people would probably hate it, and frothy foam on top.He got it just right.I type out a response.

Me: Thank you for telling him…

I delete it right away.It’s not enough.Cam and I agreed to keep our social posting reasonably ambiguous at first, so we’d have time to reveal it to our friends in a way they might actually believe. This is the perfect opportunity to lay some groundwork.Of course it is. He did this on purpose.

Me: He just brought it to me during my meeting. It was really sweet.

Allie: Yes! I love when my friends become friends with each other.

Me: I really like him. A lot…

I delete that one before sending, too.

Me: I know it’s only been a day, but I think this is going to be a really good thing.

It doesn’t seem anyone on the video call is paying attention to me anymore, so I sneak a photo of the coffee, making sure to show off my fresh manicure, too—a variation of my usual lavender-colored left hand, rose-colored right hand combo with a thin gold horizontal stripe running across each finger.

As soon as my meeting ends, I get up to find Cam. When I open my office door, he’s standing in the hallway, hand poised to knock, wearing nothing but a towel tied low on his hips. My eyes are level with the tattooed words across his chest that read ‘No Risk No Story.’ More lettering peaks over the top of the towel, crossing the deep muscularVthere, but I can’t quite make them out.I’m staring. Shit.

It’s rude to stare.

When I drag my eyes back up to meet his, water drips from his red hair onto his freshly shaven face as he smirks. Goodness.

I train my eyes on his.

“You want to finish your coffee out back with me?” he asks, like it’s normal to be hanging around the house in his towel.Oh, my word. What if itisnormal for him to hang around the house in a towel?

“Yeah—sure—coffee,” I stammer.

“Awesome. I’ll put some clothes on and see you out there,” he says, turning toward his bedroom. I’ve never seen his tattoos this close before, especially not the ones on his back. I get a good look at the pirate flag and crossed palm trees on his muscular shoulder blades before he disappears into his room.At least this time he couldn’t see me staring.

When I turn back to grab my forgotten coffee cup, there’s a chat from Hanna on my screen.

Hanna: Um, excuse me. Who was that gorgeous man that brought you coffee?!?

A petty smile turns up my lips.It’s working.

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