Page 73 of Boss with Benefits

Brad nodded, still looking dazed. "I'd like to take a DNA test before this goes any further."

Rachel's eyes brightened. "Of course. I totally get it. And that's what I want too."

"Okay." He nodded, but it was obvious he was still processing.

We discussed the details of the test and arranged for it to be done as soon as possible. As we wrapped up the meeting, Brad looked at Rachel with a mixture of awe and regret.

"This is a lot," he said. "I need some time."

Rachel nodded, her lips flattening into a line. "I get it."

She walked him to the door, and they had an awkward goodbye, unsure how to depart. They ended up shaking hands.

Rachel collapsed on the couch, and I sat next to her, keeping a cushion apart. I looked over and her face was a mixture of relief and nervous anticipation.

"I know you're mad, Derrick," she said, staring at the rug at her feet, her eyes glazed. "But thank you for helping me."

A flicker of warmth spread across my chest, and I beat it into submission.

"I'm not mad, Rachel." I reached across the couch and took her small hand in mine and squeezed it once, then let go.

Rachel glanced at me with a small smile. "Okay."

She left and I sank against the closed door, pressing my fists into my eyes. This morning, I wanted to give her what she wanted. A casual relationship. But being close to her and not being able to be with her felt like claws ripping my chest apart.

After the results came back, I was out. Loving someone who doesn’t love you back is like being cut by a thousand razers over and over again, and it was slowly killing me.

35

RACHEL

Iwas hunched over my desk, drowning in a sea of hashtags and engagement metrics, when Peyton's voice snapped me back to reality. It had been two weeks since my meeting with Brad and we were still waiting for the results.

"Hey, girl, are you listening?"

I blinked, realizing I had been staring at the same Instagram post for the last five minutes. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Peyton rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "I was asking if you wanted to grab lunch later."

I stretched, my back popping in protest. "Sorry. Just a lot on my mind."

I had been trying to get lost in work, but my mind kept slamming back to the DNA test and the excruciating wait.

"But I do love this job," I said, meaning it. "Who knew social media management could be fun."

"Said no one ever," Peyton quipped, but she was smiling.

"I'm thinking of talking to Derrick about going full-time."

"That would be awesome! I'd love you on the team permanently. You should talk to him when he's back and feeling better. But speaking of Derrick," Peyton said, her tone suddenly casual in a way that immediately put me on guard. "What's going on there? When he was here last week, it felt like you were avoiding each other, and when you do speak, you're weirdly polite."

I forced a laugh, hoping it didn't sound as fake as it felt. "What? No, everything's fine."

Peyton raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh."

I sighed, sucking my lower lip into my mouth, chewing. "It won't interfere with my work if that's what you're worried about. I know I've been spacey, but it has nothing to do with him. I promise."

"Look, there's no judgement. One in three relationships start at work. Look at me and Jackson." She waffled her eyebrows. "Forbidden fruit is the sweetest."

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