Page 16 of Tell Me You Need Me

“I’m going to strangle you with your stupid bow tie.” We’re on an island and barely go anywhere, and he’s still wearing it every day.

“Don’t be cruel.” Jack pretends to straighten it. “You’re just mad I can pull one off while you’d only look like an overgrown cat that can't stay out of the treats and your collar is now too tight, if you wore one.”

“Sorry,” I say dryly.

“Drink your coffee.” He moves it closer to me. “Now tell me what you want to know about the school.”

“I wasn’t aware it started today.”

“I put it in the notes.” Jack has a tab that keeps daily notes on things he thinks I might want to know. I scroll through them at night, but I was busy last night.

“Must have missed it.”

"That can happen when you're cuddling on a sofa with a pretty girl asleep."

“You saw us.”

“I make sure the house is shut down each night.” I lean back in my chair, running my hand down my face.

“It’s fucked up.”

“It is. When did you start watching reality TV? I’ve been trying for ages for you to watchBig Brotherwith me.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” Jack sits down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. “You can fight it or go with it.” Why is he making this easy for me? He should be trying to sway me to leave her alone, not encouraging me.

“She’s in fucking high school,” I remind him.

“I know, and it lets out at two.” Of course that fucker knew what I was searching for on the website.

“It’s wrong, and you know it.”

“What I know is that in all the time we have worked together, you have never dated or entertained a woman before, and some have tried.”

“No one tried.” I don’t know what he’s talking about.

“You don’t recall Rebecca Simms?”

“I remember her. She came up with some of the tech I used in the shadow tags.”

“That’s what you remember?”

“Those shadow tags are some of my best work.” How could I forget that?

“But you don’t recall her fawning all over you? Asking you to get dinner?”

“No.” I try to think back, but I couldn't even tell you her hair color. A blonde? No, maybe her hair was red.

“Oh, and what about Vivian from Fallware?”

“Who?” I am familiar with Fallware, but I can't recall any instances of a Vivian.

“Precisely.” Jack chuckles, and I don’t know what’s so fucking funny. I’m coming undone at the seams. My eyes glance at the clock. It’s only ten. Why does each minute feel like a goddamn eternity today? I shouldn’t be counting down time; I should be coming up with a way to keep my hands to myself.

“What is the point here, Jack? I have things to do.” Like stalking a pretty, curvy brunette. I still need to find out who the prick was that Willa asked if she was going to message. What was his name? David? No, Derrick!

"You notice Teddy. You don't notice anyone else." Jack stands from the chair. "Think about that."

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