Page 14 of I Could Be Yours

“What are these formulas for?” she asks.

Like she’s genuinely curious. Like she actually wants to know what I do, beyond the title of engineer.

But I like to keep my workspace devoid of distractions. Which means I need her out of here as soon as possible. I don’t want the memory of Essie looking intrigued, and sexy, and determined, smelling like cotton fucking candy haunting me while I’m trying to design. I already think about her in the shower every damn morning these days.

“You wouldn’t understand.” I’ve tried to explain it to people outside of work, and their eyes just glaze over.

Essie shoots me a look.

I redirect the conversation before it turns into another one I get to feel bad about. “You had something you want to discuss. What is it?”

She rolls her shoulders back, eyes no longer lit up with interest. “The Plinko board, have you made it?”

“It’s handled.” I haven’t started it, but I still have time.

“So you have it?” she presses. “Do you need help finishing it?”

“No. I definitely don’t need help.” It’s bad enough that I’ll have the memory of her standing in my office. I don’t need her in my apartment trying to help me build something. “I’ll have it ready for the weekend.” Which is when we need it.

She crosses her arms. This draws attention to her chest and reminds me that I’ve seen her nipples. My dick tingles. I think about the day my mom left. It works, but also darkens my mood.

“If you can’t follow through, Nathan, I need to know. We are five days away from the stag and doe. I’d like it to go as smoothly as possible for Tristan and Rix. Do you have a way to get it to Huntsville? Because if you don’t, we need to make a plan.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

She huffs, and her right cheek tics with irritation. It’s hot, which is frustrating. Why does she have to be so brain-meltingly attractive and sassy and competent?

“Look, Nate, I get that maybe this stuff isn’t your top priority, and you obviously have other things going on.” She motions to my whiteboard. “But Rix deserves to have the best stag and doe in the history of the universe, and that’s what I’m trying to plan. If you’re going to flake out, or be a hindrance, step the fuck out of the way and let me run things.”

Work me takes that as a challenge. But as I gaze down at this tiny, polished, annoyed woman, I realize she truly loves Rix. Why else would she come all the way across town just to make sure I’ll follow through? She has no reason to believe I will sinceI’ve let her down in the past, and I’ve been letting her down by not being engaged in all this planning shit. More than that, I’m letting my brother down by not showing up the way I should. Tristan deserves the same special experience Essie wants to give her best friend.

“The presentation took up all my bandwidth,” I confess. “But it’s done now. I promise I will send photographic evidence of the Plinko board as soon as I can, and I will have a means to transport it to Huntsville for the weekend.”There. I’m stepping up and assuaging her concerns. “Is there anything else you’re concerned about that needs my attention?”Like your nipples.

I really need her out of my office. She smells fantastic, and she’s far too good a friend to Rix, and I’m so fucking antsy and full of self-loathing over my inability to stop thinking about her pretty mouth, and other body parts I’d like to explore. Not to mention my inability to be anything but a constant dick when she’s around.

“I’ll hold you to it with the photographic evidence. Also, I sent you a calendar invitation days ago, and you haven’t accepted.” Essie scrolls through her calendar and taps a button.

“For what?”

She holds up her tablet. “Dance lessons.”

“Dance lessons?”

“Rix would like to be prepared with more than our dance routine from junior high. Tristan is game because he loves her and wants what she wants. I told her we’d join them for solidarity, and so we don’t look like bumbling idiots during the wedding reception.”

“I can dance just fine,” I argue. I also don’t know if I can handle touching Essie for an extended period without drowning in my own disdain.

She blinks up at me, wearing a placid smile. “Are you saying you won’t support Tristan and Rix? Because if that’s the case, I can ask Flip. I’m sure he’d be happy to take dance lessons with me.”

“No. Don’t ask Flip.”

“Are you afraid Flip will show you up?”

“No, that’s not?—”

“That he’ll have better moves than you?”

“No, I?—”

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