Page 76 of Time Stops With You

At the thought, my fingers dig even harder into the pack of napkins and my tough facade slips, leaking out the hurt I feel inside.

“Nardi, this is Jenna, our new programmer. Jenna, this is Nardi, my?—”

For a blissful second, I think he’ll call me his fiancée.

But then he says, “My mentee’s sister.”

“Your mentee? You mean the one who inspired you last week?”

Cullen nods.

I shift from one foot to the next, barely listening to their conversation. Why is Cullen introducing me as Josiah’s sister first? Last week, he was gung-ho about me getting married to him. He went around telling everyone we were engaged.

But now what?

He doesn’t want his little blonde friend to know he proposed to me? Is that it?

I have no idea where these irrational thoughts are coming from. On some level, I’m aware that I’m being absolutely ridiculous.

I’mthe one who told Cullen not to call me his fiancé.

I’mthe one who constantly told him to back off.

On what grounds do I feel betrayed? With what evidence? Did I expect that he’d be worrying about me the way I’ve been worrying about him?

Obviously he has not.

But no amount of rational thinking can save me now. I’mdeepin my feelings and common sense has been thrown to the wind.

Which is probably why I center all of the items I’m carrying in one hand and place my fingers on Big T’s shoulder. His eyes widen when I touch him and he whips his head to look at me.

Cullen stares at where I’m touching Big T as well. The smile drips off his face and becomes a perturbed frown.

“This,” I say sweetly, “is Big T. He’s a very good friend who helps me out on the weekends.”

“I’d say we’re a little more than friends, huh?” Big T winks.

I force a laugh.

Cullen’s cheeks turn red, and his stare becomes something sharp and destructive. I wish I could fully enjoy that expression, but I can’t.

Big T is now standing close to me. So close, I can smell that he didn’t use deodorant this morning.

My teeth clench together. What am I doing? Why am I affirming that there’s something going on between us when I wasjustabout to cut him off two seconds ago?

This is amess,and suddenly, no one is talking.

Cullen just stares and stares at me.

Big T preens like the emperor with no clothes.

And I’m seriously regretting every single choice I’ve made in the past week and a half.

“Well,” Jenna says hesitantly, “it was nice meeting you.”

Big T grins at her.

Jenna blinks rapidly. “Ronan, we have that meeting to get to.”

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