Page 20 of In Plain Sight

“Surprise us.” She paused. “You sound different.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure, exactly. But you’re extra relaxed and chill. Did I interrupt some solo time?”

“No, but I did get off about five minutes before you called,” I said, knowing that would get her attention.

“I’m not following—oh!” She laughed. “You were on your app, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Thank fuck I spilled my tea.” She snort-laughed.

“What?”

“I spilled my tea while I was sitting down to call you and had to clean up and make a new one. If I hadn’t, I would have totally called while you were getting your bossy on.”

“Thank fuck for your clumsiness. No offense, but having your name pop up on my phone while I was doingthatwould have been an instant mood killer.”

“None taken.” She snickered. “Was it at least good?”

“Yeah, better than usual,” I said honestly.

“That’s something, at least. Are you going to talk to him again?”

“Probably not,” I said, unable to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

I wasn’t against repeats, especially when they were with someone I clicked with, but Sinbin’s bio made it clear he wasn’t looking for that.

“Why not?” she asked. “Just because he’s an online boink buddy?—”

“Boink buddy?” I asked with a laugh.

“Cum comrade? What about peen pal?”

“Oh my god.” I shook my head, still laughing. “No to all of those.”

“Whatever,” she said dismissively. “I’m just saying that even a regular online thing could be good for you.”

“That’s not what the app is for. Or why I go on it.”

“Are you okay otherwise? How’s work?” she asked, changing the subject.

“I’m good. And work is good too.”

“How’s the new guy doing?”

“He’s good.”

“That’s all I get? He’s good?” she pressed.

“Not much else to say. He gets along with everyone, he’s good at his job, and he cleans up after himself.”

“You spend over forty hours a week with the guy, and that’s all you know about him? He’s good at his job and he cleans up after himself?”

I hadn’t told Ivy much about Luka—or about my attraction to him. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her or didn’t want her to know; it was more that I didn’t want to say it out loud, like that would somehow make it more real.

And it would be easier to get over my crush or whatever this was if I didn’t have to deal with her asking a million questions and pestering me about it.

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