Page 34 of Until You're Breathless

It’s weird that it’s not weird...

“Yeah. No, that’s just what I suspected.” He says and looks at me. I look at him, and for a second, my eyes go to his lips and his go to mine.Oh, are we doing this now?Yet another thing that would be considered awkward and grounds for sexual harassment in any other workplace, but not here. As he speaks, his eyes are going from my eyes to my lips. “It’s the new relay.”

“Exactly.” I answer, trying to focus, but my body is so warm it’s distracting.

He breaks the spell by turning away, rising off the chair. He rakes a hand through his hair. “You want a coffee?”

“Sure.” I answer, wondering if he feels as warm as I do. We never made any promises about staying away from each other. I think it’s supposed to be implied. I’m supposed to be healing from my previous heartbreak, most would say. Some would say that I’m using Jagger to get over Boston. Some would say that I just want him for sex and nothing else, simply because I no longer have someone to itch that scratch for me anymore. However, those people would be wrong. The truth is, that itch hasn’t been scratched in the way it should be scratched in a long time.

...And nobody ever scratched me the way that Jagger did.

Not Boston.

Not anyone.

But I can’t think that way. We’re supposed to be professionals. We have a professional relationship. And what would become of this if we acted on my impulses, and it didn’t work out? And how do I even know that Jagger is having the same impulses? For all I know he was just going to get coffee innocently. He wasn’t leaving for any other reason.

...or was he?

“I say fuck him and get it out of your system.” Jinny states benignly, with her mouth full of salad, as I run it by her during lunch. I might as well have asked her if my pants matched my shirt, the way she answers me.

“I’m not a whore, like someone I know, Jinny.”

She just chuckles. It’s not the first time I’ve called her a whore and it won’t be the last. “Think of how much more productive you'll be once the sexual tension is gone.”

“How do I even know that he’s feeling any sexual tension?”

She lifts a brow. “He’s a guy, isn’t he.”

“Funny. He works with all sorts of girls, and that assistant of his keeps giving him googly eyes. It makes me wanna puke.”

“Beat the shit out of her or tell him you want her fired.”

“I can’t do that. I’ve only been here two weeks.”

“So what. If she’s on your nerves, you’re the fucking second head honcho here, and you have a say, Bowie.”

“What am I going to say? 'Gee, Jagger. That whore that books your calendar and answers your phone calls wants you to fuck her, if she isn’t already.'...that’ll go over well, right?” My finger is on my cheek, and my eyes are focused on the wall, in jest.

We’re in the lunchroom, somewhere we’ve never been, and we both see Rush walk in. The look on his face tells us that he overheard. “Heisfucking her. I told him to cut it out already.”

“Shit. Sorry, Rush. Didn’t know you were there.” Jinny states.

He waves, grabbing a coffee from the carafe. “It makes everyone uncomfortable. She’s a great worker, according to Jagger, but I think she’s a fucking distraction.’

“I agree.” I say, not holding back. “She needs to wear something that covers the fucking silicone.”

“Well, he won’t listen to me, so maybe he’ll listen to you.” Rush suggests. “Halen’s got another assistant lined up for him, but he doesn’t want to let go of the head, if you know what I mean.”

“Gross.” I wince. “Yeah, we know what you mean.”

“So, who’s going to do it.” Rush says with a grunt, planting his ass on the chair next to Jinny.

Jinny says. “Do we want to draw straws?’

Chapter 10

Jagger

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