Page 35 of The Fear of Falling
Sonny. The marketing guy Eric hired. It’s BENSON.
Dani:
Benson, the guy you fell in love with in Italy? That Benson?
Avery:
I did NOT fall in love with him! But yes, that one. He’s HERE. And he’s WORKING WITH ME.
Dani:
Why are you saying this like it’s a problem? Now you can either lay one on him and get a second chance romance or you can tell me what he drives and I’ll egg his car. Sounds like a winning situation either way.
Avery:
This is in no way a winning situation! And have you ever tried to clean up eggs? It’s awful.
More to the point, Benson is acting like Italy never happened and treating me like I’m nothing but his coworker!
He’salsosittingafew feet from mein my office, since the only available desk in Rose & Quill headquarters is the one Sadie sometimes uses if she’s not working from home. It’s in my office with me because there was nowhere else to put it, and I’ve never minded sharing my space with my cousin. Sharing with a large, overly attractive man with the most tantalizing scent that reminds me of dancing at an Italian wedding and makes me crave tiramisu?
I’m dying here.
Dani:
Do coworkers normally do that thing with the tiramisu? If so, you and I have had VERY differentcoworker experiences. (And I only have to clean the eggs up if I get caught…)
Avery:
NO EGGS. Besides, he’s here to make sure we don’t go under and you can keep publishing books.
Dani:
Yay for book publishing! Boo for him being a man who thinks he can lock his feelings away in a tiny little box and pretend like you’re not soulmates.
*gif of woman licking pudding off a spoon*
Avery:
We are not soulmates.
I regret telling you about the tiramisu.
Dani:
From what you told me, you two are endgame and he was totally into you, so I don’t see what the problem is here.
Avery:
He pretended not to know me, Dani. He clearly didn’t have feelings for me.
Movement catches my eye, and I look over right as Benson slides out of his suit coat, showing off his arms and shoulders—features I know better than I should. I wondered in Italy what he did to give him that definition, but now my curiosity is worse. How does a consultant keep up a fitness routine when he’s constantly on the road, going from business to business and living out of hotels?
At least now I know why he doesn’t commit. He’s never in one place long enough to make any promises.
My phone buzzes, pulling my attention from the care Benson takes as he drapes the jacket on the back of his chair.
Dani:
