Page 15 of Merry Little Mishap

The elevator door opened up as Nick gestured for me to go first. I hurried awkwardly, lifting Camilla’s present into my arms, entering. Somehow inside felt even quieter, as we both reached for the same button. What a gentlemen, pressing my level before his. We each pulled back and laughed.

God. More silence and accidental eye gazing.

Was he thinking about melikinghis posts? Had he seen it already? I wondered, suddenly feeling too warm as I unbuttoned my coat.

“No family party tonight?” I finally asked, the elevator creaking in the background.

Nick smiled to himself. “I kind of bailed on that.”

“Not in the mood?”

“Not exactly. I love my sister, love my nephews… just wanted to try something different tonight.”

“Like compete in an eating contest?” I joked, noticing the familiarSichuan Gardenlogo on his plastic bags. He looked to be carrying nearly ten pounds of my favorite Chinese food.

“Thought I would give it a try… besides, Marty loves the leftovers.”

“He seems like a chow-mien kinda dog.”

“Think more broccoli and beef.” Nick tilted his head, his eyes shifting. He suddenly seemed so self-conscious of the bags, staring at them, his face washed with indifference.

He reached for the pocket in his jacket, for what I assumed was his phone.

I panicked, my stomach instantly twisting into a knot.

This was it; he was going to see the notifications now if he hadn’t already.

“I didn’t mean to like your posts!” I blurted out, leaning against the railing of the elevator wall.

Nick pulled out a piece of gum from his pocket, sticking it into his mouth. He chewed, just letting my random statement float around with no response.

“What posts?” he asked curiously, almost confused.

“Oh…”

“You liked one of my posts? Like on Instagram?”

“Well, a friend did… I mean I like them, too, but…”

“So, you were with a friend?” Nick scanned me once more, but this time his gaze lingered much longer on my lips. I wasn’t sure if he was relieved or concerned.

“She’s my boss… it’s complicated.”

“Hmmm,” Nick sighed. “I thought for some reason you were on a date.”

“Date?” I snorted, smoothing over my hair, its taut texture blooming into curls on the other end of my ponytail. “No. No date. Never a date.”

“Never?”

Don’t make me relive this.

I faked a smile.

“The last one I went on ended with an awkward handshake turned fist bump.”

Nick shook his head, “That’s terrible.”

“I know, right! Anyway, safe to say, it didn’t work out. Since then, it’s been crickets in the dating department.”

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