Page 14 of Come Home to Me

Frank

I should be exhausted but I’m not. By the time I got home last night, it was nearly one in the morning and I most definitely did not crawl into bed and fall right to sleep. Sarah danced through my mind while I lay awake, replaying each and every detail of the evening.

What she said.

What I said in return.

The way the light played in her eyes.

Her easy nature and quick sense of humor, coupled with hints of something much deeper running under the surface.

My alarm goes off and I spring out of bed, practically dancing through my morning. Just in case my energy takes a nosedive, I arm myself with a giant coffee for the morning meeting, but damn, I’m firing on all cylinders today. If there’s a question, I have an answer. If there’s a problem, I have a solution. If there’s a disagreement, I see a peaceful resolution. And through it all, Sarah’s name ticks through my head in time with the second hand on the clock.

Jason catches my attention as we step out of the conference room around noon. “You, my friend, are super human today. Feel like hopping over to my office? I have some problems I’d love you to solve.”

“Nah.” I throw back the last of my coffee. “How will you ever learn to succeed on your own if all I ever do is pick up your slack?” I ask, even though he has no slack to pick up. The man challenges me to be a better version of myself on a daily basis. While I’m good at what I do, he’s better and I always shoot for the top.

Jason falls into step with me as I head toward the elevators. “What has the extra pep in your step today?” He presses the button and leans against the wall. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you picked up a bad habit overnight.”

The elevator doors slide open with a ding, revealing none other than Sarah, standing alone inside, looking sexy as hell in the same little black dress and boots she had on last night, fiddling with the silver leaf dangling from her necklace. Her face brightens when she recognizes me. “Well, hey there, you.”

Jason and I step inside the elevator and I fight the urge to introduce him to my new bad habit. “You know you didn’t have to come in to apply for that admin job, right?”

My question earns me a sharp look from Jason. He knows as well as I do that I can’t handle another kerfuffle with a coworker, but thankfully, he doesn’t call me out on it in front of Sarah. Instead, he steps forward and offers her his hand.

“Jason Lancaster,” he says. “Frank’s better-looking friend.”

Sarah pretends to size him up, letting her gaze run up his body and then down mine. “I’d come up with a witty reply, but I’m not sure I know you well enough to be honest.” She releases his grip with a smile. “Sarah Carmichael,” she says before turning to me. “And I called this morning to inquire about the job and they asked me to come in right away for an interview, smart ass.”

Her response earns me another sideways glance from Jason, but I ignore it. “Well, congratulations, then.” I lean against the wall beside Sarah.

“I don’t have the job, yet. No reason to congratulate me.”

“Eh. Technicalities. You’ll have an offer by the beginning of next week. I’m sure of it.”

“Then I guess my savings account will take yet another hit, unless jeans, bikinis, and semi-slutty dresses count as business casual around here.” Sarah smirks as the elevator shudders to a stop and the door slides open.

Jason pushes off the wall. “And that right there is my cue to leave.” He looks at me, a wide smile smeared across his face and a look in his eyes that says ‘get off the elevator, asshole.’

He’s right. I’d be better off to wish her the best, shake her hand, and resolve to maintain a lukewarm friendship with Sarah while she’s still in town. But what are the chances of whatever this is with Sarah turning into another Violet situation?

For one, Sarah is not Violet.

And for two, Sarah won’t be in Denver long enough to cause a problem.

The odds are in my favor, I know that much.

I fold my arms across my chest. “I’m gonna ride down with Sarah. See ya in a few.” I lift a hand as the doors slide shut. Jason raises a judgmental eyebrow before he disappears from view.

The elevator begins its descent and then lurches crazily. Sarah cries out and places a hand on the wall. “Whoa. That’s…”

The lights flicker.

A grinding sound eats her words.

And…

…we stop.

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