Page 12 of Just Watch Me

I sighed. “It’s not easy to make a switch like that. When you’re good at something, the team leads are motivated to keep you so it reflects well on them.” I wasn’t exactly throwing Chad under the bus since it was a common enough issue.

Skylar frowned and took more notes. “Do you think there’s a lack of opportunity to advance across the company?”

“Isn’t there in every company?”

He twisted his face and looked up to the ceiling for a moment. “Yes, I guess that’s true.”

Skylar asked me a few more questions then put his pencil down. “That’s all the questions I have for you. Any questions for me?”

What are you doing tonight? Can I suck your dick? Will you use that bossy tone with me later? Can you help me work up the courage to apply for a game design job?

“Not that I can think of.”Is that disappointment I saw?

“Thanks for your time, Jesse.” He stood and held out his hand. It must have been an automatic habit because he looked down at it and laughed.

I shook it anyway because I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to finally touch him. As soon as our skin connected, I felt it through my entire body, like a domino had been knocked over, sending a chain reaction of pieces tumbling over inside me. Except the dominoes were on fire. I sucked in a breath and dropped his hand.

“Um, thanks for your time,” I managed as I turned toward the door. I needed to clear my head. That touch was wild.

“Hey, Jesse?”

I turned back around with my hand on the doorknob.

His grin looked predatory. “I’ll see you later.”

My dick twitched. The shameless beast.

CHAPTER8

Skylar:I just learned you can get married in this donut shop. I think the whole “keep Portland weird” thing is making more sense

Me:lol giving Voodoo a try? Such a tourist

Skylar:I’m clutching my pearls right now. How dare you

Me:If the necklace fits

Skylar:lol brat. What kind of donut should I get? I had a meeting nearby, so I might as well give it a try

Me:there’s a chocolate devil’s food cake one with chocolate frosting and coconut on top. It’s really good. And maple bacon is always a classic

Skylar:mm I love maple and bacon. Coconut too

Me:#treatyoself

Skylar:THERE’S A DONUT DICK! [eggplant emoji]

Me:hahaha I forgot about that one. The balls are full of cream

Skylar:you’re kidding

Me:I never kid about phallic donuts, Skylar

Skylar:you around tonight? I can’t eat all of these by myself

I grinned at my phone. It wasn’t lost on me that it was the second Friday in a row we would hang out. It had been two weeks since The Incident and ten days since I’d learned he was one of our consultants. Not that I was counting.Fine. I’m totally counting.They were the best ten days I’d had in a very long time, maybe ever, which was sort of pathetic.Am I so friendship starved that a few dinners together, regular texts, and a couple joint workouts are the highlight of my life?I’ll take who’s the most tragic programmer in Portland for five hundred, Alex.

I wiped my clammy palms on my sweats as I willed my heart to slow to a normal rhythm. Wallowing in feelings could wait until after we hung out.

---