Page 64 of Work with Me

He’d made me a plate. My favorite sandwich alongside a pile of green salad with balsamic dressing, and he’d even left off the disgusting pasta salad. Parked on the side was a double-chocolate-chip cookie. My eyes prickled, and I blinked, fast.

“Thank you. This is perfect.”

He shot me a grin and sauntered back to the food line.

Jamila raised her eyebrow again. “He fixed you a plate.”

Like me, Jamila had grown up in Austin. She knew our ways. Jackson didn’t, and it didn’t mean anything. Though…maybe it did. Jackson tried so hard to hide it, but I’d seen him reveal how much he cared. Like that green smoothie he’d gotten Cooper the day after the kickoff. Food poisoning aside, he’d bought the guys dinner when they’d worked late. He’d talked to Noah about cars. And now he’d brought me lunch even though I was perfectly capable of getting it myself.

“He—”

She nodded. “You’ve trained your team well. I think you’re doing just fine.”

“Just fine?” Cooper had swept up silently on Jamila’s other side. “She’s doing great. Our code review this morning was impeccable.” He set down his plate.

“Oh, you brought me a plate. How sweet,” Jamila said. “Come back and join us when you’ve got your lunch.”

A micro-frown crossed his face, but he turned and joined Jackson at the food table. Jamila stared at the plate he’d brought, piled high with salad and lacking a cookie. “Northern boys.” She shook her head but picked up the fork and stabbed a bite of salad.

“You’ve known them a long time, haven’t you?” I said.

“Forever. Since our freshman year at Stanford. We were in some of the same classes together. I met Jay first, and he introduced me to Cooper, who was his roommate. I guess I’ve stayed closer to Cooper over the years. He and I come from a similar background. We understand each other. Jay’s a little…different. He doesn’t let many people close. Only Cooper, really.”

A warm glow settled inside me, right next to the chicken Caesar wrap. He’d told me about his ADHD. About his father. I’d become one of his select few friends.

The chair next to me pulled away from the table, and then Jackson sat in it. I didn’t even have to look to know it was him. I could tell from his scent and from the way he took up space behind me. Shit, I was developing Jackson Jones radar.

Cooper sat on Jamila’s other side. “Jamila, you haven’t been trying to pull Synergy trade secrets out of Alicia, have you?” He chuckled at his own joke.

“No, Coop, just checking that you’re taking proper care of my girl.”

“What’s the verdict?”

She smiled at Jackson. “I think you are.”

My heart went straight from a nervous trot to a full-out canter. Did she know him so well she could tell something was going on between Jackson and me? That I’d kissed him the other night?

Jackson’s knee pressed against mine under the table. “Breathe,” he whispered.

I nodded. Drawing in a shaky breath, I held it for a second and let it out.

“So, Jay, did you throw one of your legendary Halloween ragers this year?” Jamila asked.

“Sure did. Though it was pretty low-key. Music, decorations, and beer.”

Cooper said, “Jay told me he invited people from the office. Did you go, Alicia?”

“I—I did.” Shit, had he heard something?

“So you can tell us whether it was legendary or low-key.”

Some of my tension blew out with my breath. “I’m not much of a party person, so I’m not a good judge.”

“I think Jay would consider a party low-key if everyone kept their clothes on,” Jamila said with a smirk.

“Definitely low-key, then.” My voice shook. I’d kept my clothes on—barely.

“That’s too bad,” Jamila said. “Though I’m sorry I missed it. I hope you’ll be back in San Francisco next year so I can go.”

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