Page 34 of Octane

She looks as beautiful as always. The soft lighting shines down on her, making it look like she has a halo. Maybe I was wrong, that the devil didn’t send her to pull me into hell. Maybe she was sent here to save me.

“Sawyer, hi,” I breathe out.

She shoots me her tight smile and an awkward wave. She’s uncomfortable here. It’s not her office. It’s not neutral ground.

“Am I the first to arrive?” she asks, looking around.

“Well,” I start, “yes, but…”

As I think of how I want to proceed, anxiety takes over her stare.

“Jackson, what’s going on?” she demands, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I told the guys that I had to cancel the meeting tonight.”

“What? Why?”

“Because this was the only idea I could come up with to get you alone. I thought if I said I needed to meet with you, he would insist on accompanying you or not let you come at all.”

“He?”

“Daniel.”

“Look, if this is about yesterday after practice, I’m really sorry. I didn’t know he was going to be there, and I certainly didn’t think he was going to cause a scene.”

She looks like she is trying to convince herself that her last words are true.

“If I’m in trouble because of it, can you please just let me know how bad it is? Am I off the team? Suspended?”

“No, no, you’re not in any trouble.”

I can feel the weight lifting off of her from across the room.

“But we do need to have a serious conversation. Please, let’s go to my office.”

She looks like she wants to say no, like she’s afraid that I’m going to take advantage of her. I’m about to tell her that we can stay in the reception area if she prefers, but then she takes a step toward me.

She follows me down the hallway and into my office.

“Please, have a seat.” I point to the sofa. “Can I get you something to drink? Water? Coffee?”

“No, I’m fine. Can you please just tell me why you called me here?”

She checks the time on her watch. Not wanting to keep her here for too long, I sit in one of the chairs across from the sofa and begin.

“Sawyer, I asked you here because I’m really worried about you. I think Daniel is a danger to you.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she scoffs. Her mouth opens as though she wants to say more, but I can tell she can’t find the words.

Nervously, she combs her fingers through her hair a few times. It makes me wonder how soft it is. Watching her makes me wish it was my hand running through her raven-colored curls.

“Is it?”

She doesn’t answer, but her stare is challenging. My eyes don’t waver from hers.

“What happened yesterday, does that kind of thing happen often?”

“No, of course not. Daniel has been really stressed out at work lately. His father, he owns the company, he’s been getting on his case about sales and stuff. I said something I shouldn’t have. That’s all. It was my fault.”

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