Page 31 of Fluke
“Who is this?” he asks, motioning to Kerissa.
“Her best friend,” she says, giving him an icy glare. “I’m not as nice as she is, for what it’s worth.”
“Did your best friend tell you that she got a huge promotion today?” he asks, his eyes getting beadier by the second.
Annnnd lift off…
Kerissa looks over my head before snapping her gaze back to Chuck. “She did. We’re celebrating. Would you like to join us?”
I kick her under the table.What are you doing?
Chuck rests his hand next to the salsa. It’s an attempt at being casual, but it comes across far more predatorily than I think he realizes.Or maybe he does realize it, and that’s the effect he’s after.
“No, I don’t want to bother the two of you,” he says. “I was hoping, though, that I could meet the ex-husband. This isn’t one of the nights you have dinner with him, is it?”
I scoot away from the table, needing air that’s not scented with asshole.
“You know what, Chuck? We aren’t in the office right now, so my threshold for putting up with your bullshit is down quite a few notches.”
He chuckles angrily. I return the vibes right back at him.
“Let me give you a lesson in boundaries,” I say, getting to my feet.
Kerissa, unsure what’s happening, stands too.
“We work together,Chuck,” I say, squaring my shoulders with him. “Actually, we don’t even work together now sinceI’llbe heading a whole new department.”
I lean back just in case the steam coming out of his head blows off his toupee.
“Let’s get one thing clear,” I say, my frustration from the past couple of weeks coming to a head. “My life has absolutely nothing to do with you. And if you continue to make me feel uncomfortable, I will file a report where necessary.”
“Oh,please,” he says, his eyes narrowing. “You and I both know the real reason you’re so defensive.It’s because you’re lying. And as soon as Bridgit finds out that you’re a liar—and she will because I’ll make sure of it—I’ll have your job. The job I’ve been working toward for the pastsix fucking years.”
“Fuck you, Chuck. Disrespectfully, of course.”
He laughs, the sound filled with hatred from his cold, black heart. “I’m not letting this go. I’m not going to stop pushing until I prove that there’s no ex-husband—”
An arm slides around my middle from behind me.
“Hey, Dream Girl. Sorry I’m late.”
8
PIPPA
Heat radiates from my face, and the room begins to spin. Vaguely, I notice Kerissa’s amusement, but I don’t have the wherewithal to register it.
Even if he hadn’t spoken, I would’ve known who was touching me. And the way he cinches his forearm around my waist—almost as if he’s creating a barrier between me and Chuck, makes my knees weak.
My body sags against Jess’s. He makes no effort to back away or to step to the side. His chest is hard against my back as his fingertips press lightly into the bend just above my hip.
Get it together, Pippa.
My head spins as I try to put together the pieces of the moment. I’m not sure what Jess is doing or if he knows my current predicament.How could he know? Did he hear my conversation with Kerissa the other day in Shade House? Did he hear what I was saying now?
Chuck flinches, making note of every move between Jess and me.
Game on.
