Page 126 of Misfortune and Mr. Right

“Yes. If you have any.”

Nori puts her elbows on the counter and leans in toward me. “Don’t give up. We might push a guy away when we’re hurting or sad, but we don’t really want you to leave us completely alone. Give her time. I’ve seen the two of you together. She’s head-over-heels for you.”

“I messed up big time,” I confess.

“Well, then. Make up big time.”

I nod at Nori and place a ten on the counter. “A little extra for your counseling services.”

“They come at no charge.” She smiles, handing my money back to me. “This one’s on the house.”

I thank Nori and step down to wait for Olivia’s drink.

I stop in front of her door and set the cup on the doormat, half expecting a fortune cookie to pop out of the mat. Of course, one doesn’t.

Besides, if I were to take those other fortunes seriously, I’ve had enough admonishment to last me a while.

I walk away, glancing back once before I turn through the lounge, half hoping Olivia will open her door and see the drink—and me. Of course, she might dump it down the drain. But maybe she’ll actually drink it.

I get ready and head to work.

I don’t know what to do. Darwin seems dead-set on promoting me. He said it came down to me and Olivia. She and I both heard him say he picked me over her.

I’d love this promotion. I’ve always wanted to be a marketing manager. I came back home to claim this position, or at least that’s what I thought when I instigated a move and applied at Barnes. Being a manager would give me more influence over the whole scope of each project.

But when I think about it, Olivia would make a great manager too. She has a different skill set and approach to bring to a management role, but she’d do a great job—just like she does everything else, with excellence and her own touch.

I miss her. And it’s only been fifteen hours since I’ve seen her. Eighteen since we were flirting in the conference room. It feels more like eighteen years than eighteen hours.

When I walk into the workspace, Charlie approaches me.

“You look like crap, Logan. What happened?”

I smile a close-mouthed grin at him.

“Nothing much. Didn’t sleep well.”

“Did this lack of sleep involve Olivia? Because she called in.”

“She called in?”

Charlie raises his eyebrows at me and thins his lips. “I think I liked it better when you two openly loathed each other.”

“I never loathed Olivia. Ever.”

“Well, whatever it was, it was far easier on the rest of us.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to fix things.”

“Let me know if you need any help. In all seriousness, I like you two for one another. And this”—Charlie motions to my face and then the rest of my body—“is not a good look on you.”

Darwin arrives to work about an hour later. I pop my head in his office.

“Do you have a minute?” I ask him.

“For you? Always. What can I do for you?”

I shut the door behind me, and then I lay out my whole situation to him. I probably sound unhinged. Also, I’ve never been so unprofessional in my whole life. Usually, I’m one to keep all my cards close. I don’t mix business with pleasure. I keep my emotions under lock and key. I’m laser-focused and driven. Not today.

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