Page 67 of Craving Francesca

“Well, I’m starving,” he said, reaching up to grip the top of the doorframe. “I’ll see you later.”

I dropped back into my seat as soon as he’d gone. Was he—did he just orchestrate that whole thing to make it seem like we were still seeing each other? No one would believe it. Everyone had watched me dodging him—hell, a few of them had even interrupted for bullshit reasons a few times when they’d noticed him loitering in my office doorway.

My heart pounded as I looked out the window of my small office into the larger area. No one was looking my way, but I knew that most of them had heard him.

Refusing to let my entire afternoon get derailed, I forced myself to focus on the tasks I needed to finish before I could leave. Scott and I were surrounded by people, so even if he was acting more unhinged than normal, it wasn’t as if he could do anything. I’d have plenty of witnesses.

By the time I packed up my bag and headed out of the office that evening, my shoulders and neck were so stiff that I could barely turn my head from side to side. I’d only left one thing on my desk I’d have to finish early Monday morning, but I wasn’t willing to stay late for any reason.

I met Linda and another coworker, Sharon, as they waited for the elevator.

“Hey, girl,” Linda said kindly. “All done for the day?”

“All done,” I confirmed, smiling at them both.

Sharon looked behind us. “I figured Scott would be with you.”

“Why?” I asked bluntly.

“Well,” she hedged, glancing at Linda, who just stared back at her. “It’s Friday night. I figured you guys would have plans or something.”

“I’m not with Scott.”

“Sure,” she said, shrugging.

“I’m not.”

“I mean, it wouldn’t be a big deal,” she said, lowering her voice. “If you were, I mean. There’s nothing in the employee handbook that prohibits it.”

“I’m not with him.”

Sharon shrugged again, and Linda let out a sound somewhere between a snort and a scoff.

“Good grief, Shar,” Linda said, shaking her head as she stepped onto the elevator. “Just because the guy’s panting after her, doesn’t mean she likes it.”

I shot Linda a look of gratitude.

“I’ve seen you two together,” Sharon argued primly. “I don’t know why it has to be a big secret, but don’tlieabout it.”

“You’re right,” I conceded, following them onto the elevator as I weighed what I should say. “But I broke up with him last month. He’s just not letting it go.”

Sharon’s head spun to look at me. “Last month?”

I nodded.

“But he’s—”

“He’s not leaving it alone,” Linda said disapprovingly.

“Not cool,” Sharon muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

“That’s what you get for dating someone from work,” I said, trying to lighten the conversation. “He’ll get over it eventually.”

“I would hope so,” Sharon said, wrinkling her nose.

“He needs to pull his head out,” Linda said, nodding to me.

“One can only hope.”

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