Page 2 of Hidden Confessions

I could see how that would be interpreted as something a little terse, I guess.

Even more than that, I did feel like I had perhaps contributed to ourstuff.There wasn’t a single subject that the two of us could ever agree on without it coming down to a verbal match. Even just walking past him in the hallway was a battle to brace for. I’d square my shoulders, keep my face blank, and act like he wasinvisible, but inside I was all,“Don’t look at him. Don’t you dare stumble.”I had to focus on every step, every breath, because giving him just an inch of reaction felt like losing ground in a silent war we both refused to acknowledge.

It was clear there was something more going on between us, some kind of unresolvedtension, but I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up first and make an embarrassment of myself. Knowing him, he’d just laugh in my face and brush it off, like I was making something out of nothing.

What would I have said, anyway?I think we’re making people uncomfortable?

Why can’t you just let me win?

What’s the deal?

Yeah, right.

Maybe all thistensionI was feeling beneath the bickering was only on my end, and for him it was just that—trying to get under my skin to kill his competition. After all, there was only one opening at Hogan-Ballard for partner, and it was either him or me. This war started right from when we locked eyes on our first day of work, like two male lions battling for the same territory. It was either kill or be killed.

So fight we did.

But my fight was more than just clever retorts. It was deeper—shameless even.

A twisted side of me likedit. The aggression. The constant back-and-forth. The way he refused to back down. Yeah, whenever he pinned me down with those green eyes of his... Ilikedit.

Finn was stubborn and hot-headed, but he was also tall and broad and handsome—annoyingly so. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was about him that drew me in. Perhaps it was only physical.

I know. Shameless.

By the time I caught wind of the rumor spreading around the office like wildfire, it had taken on a form of its own. Before I knew it, the manager had moved our desks to opposite ends of the room just in case.

Just in case of what? We resorted to physical blows instead of verbal? I had no idea.

I didn’t hate Finn with the passion of a thousand burning suns, as said by the rumor. No, no. The truth of the matter was... well... a little dirtier.

I wanted him tofuckme with the passion of a thousand burning suns.

Even admitting that to myself made my cheeks warm in embarrassment.

I took a sip from my wine glass as my eyes roamed over him, studying him as he talked to one of the new paralegals. He flashed the girl a dazzling smile and she in turn blushed head to toe, her eyes taking on a sparkle. I couldn’t blame her for it. Hell, even I wouldn’t know what I’d do if Finn directedthatsmile at me. He had never smiled at me like that before. I was only on the receiving end of his sinister smirks and evil grins when he was busy annoying the hell out of me.

Was he always this effortlessly charming?

Anyway, it didn’t matter. Finn didn’t like me, and the likelihood of anyfuckinghappening was dwindling to zero at this point. A few more minutes and this party would end. We would go our separate ways. Him to Boston...

Me to the sad remains of all of our office battles.

Also, I knew that nothing would come of it—my feelings for him. That was why the second they reared up within me, I tried everything to squash them, but Finn just had to make it difficult. And really, that made it partially his fault too. How could these feelings die when he was in my face all the fucking time? All themore reason why I couldn’t stand him. Of all the men I could fall for, why did it have to be him? Like, just why?

I wasn’t even sure if he was into men. Though there were a few notable photos I saw of his younger self at an all-men’s pool party—like the ones they have in Miami in the summer—when I stalked his social media. They screamed gay.

There were also moments I’d catch him looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place. It reminded me of the way someone looks at something they’ve wanted for a long time but can’t have.

But that didn’t make sense to me. No way was he staring at me withlonging.

Ah.

What the hell did it matter now? He was leaving.

“Spence, what are you still doing here?” My co-worker’s voice snapped me out of my spiraling train of depressing thoughts as I tore my gaze away from Finn.

Tracy.

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