Page 29 of Chips & Checks
“And…” I rub the back of my neck. This part is harder to say than I thought. “I’m trying to be someone who doesn’t justdisappear after sex. Someone who gives a shit. Even if we’re not…” I wave a hand vaguely, like that might fill in the word I’m not saying.
Her eyebrows lift.
“Look, I’m not saying I’m good at this. But maybe I’m your… coworker. Who doesn’t want you dealing with this alone.”
“Oh. That’s—” Violet blinks up at me a few times. “That’s surprisingly decent of you? I think? But I’m supposed to be meeting Ash at my place in half an hour.”
“Perfect.” I give her two thumbs up. “We’ll reconvene there. Does Cam know where you live?”
“Hedoes.Youdon’t.”
“What’re we going to do? Talk about all of this at the arena?” I extend my arms to indicate our current surroundings.
“No, but…ugh.Dammit.” She pinches her face into an adorable pout. “You make a solid point. Fine, but you’re following me. You’re not getting my address for your GPS.”
“Fine. But I’m still going to know where you live. But just in case you’re worried, I’m not the guy who’s going to just pop over unannounced… or at all, for that matter.” I wiggle my fingers between us. “Coworkers don’t do that. It would be weird.”
“Okay. I’m going to assume you’re directionally challenged like most men, and you won’t remember the way.” Violet readjusts her purse strap. “You know something, Bowen? We might actually get along. Try and keep up.”
“That should be easy. Your legs are, like, half as long as mine.”
She puffs out her cheeks, which is also adorable. “I meant in the car.” She strides down the hall, clearly elongating her gait. I pretend to yawn as I walk beside her.
“Sorry, Vi, but I’m pretty sure even when you’re speedwalking, you still have to take two steps for every one of mine.”
“It’s not my fault I’m a dwarf!”
I grin down at her. “I’m pretty sure that’s ableist.”
“No, literally.” Vi pats the top of her head. “Dwarfism caps at 147 centimeters.”
I chuckle. “And you are?”
“I’m 146, bay-bee.” She aims finger-guns at me. “I don’t have achondroplasia, but it still counts.”
“Akon-what?”
Violet laughs. “Never mind. I forgot that you’re not a medical guy. You’re just a guy who got big muscles from picking things up and putting them down.”
“Accurate.” I flex one arm and squeeze my bicep with the opposite hand. “That’s me. A meathead. Big words roll right off my smooth, smooth brain.”
Violet stares at my arm for a few seconds. Color rises in her cheeks. Interesting. I mean, I guess it makes sense that she’s attracted to me, since she was willing to go back to my hotel room the other night. Seems like she might be more interested than she’s let on, though. Plus, she was totally checking me out in the office earlier. That insight makes me feel…
Nothing. I feelnothing, because we’re just coworkers.
I’m not imagining her pressed up against me again.
My dick is not bricking up in my sweats like I’m fourteen.
My heart is not squeezing in my chest like some chump in a Nicholas Sparks movie.
I’m cool. I’m composed. I’m the picture of emotional professionalism.
Just a guy noticing a girl noticing his biceps.
Totally normal. Totally ignorable.
Definitely not a big deal.
