Page 104 of Through You
“Relax. They’re not plans to meet a man.”
“I’m relaxed.” I give her a wide smile. “Can’t you tell?”
“All right, Mr. Relaxed. Get out of here or you’re going to be late.” She pushes me in the direction of the door.
“Is it a girls’ night out? To a club? You could go to my club. I promise I won’t bother you if—”
“Good-bye, Artemis.”
I reluctantly make my exit.
After a rather long two-hour meeting, I’m dying to eat and grateful to Claudia for the fruit salad waiting for me in my office.
To my great misfortune, when I walk into my office I find it occupied by Alex, who is lying on my couch, holding two ice packs to his head. His eyes are closed, and he grimaces in pain.
“Don’t you have your own office?” I ask.
“Can you please have mercy, I’m on my deathbed,” he replies in a low whisper. Perhaps if I ignore him, he’ll go away of his own accord. At my desk, I uncover the fruit cup and begin to eat. The sight of Alex stretched out on my couch looking like a rag doll is not the best view, but maybe he won’t be his usual chatty self since he’s not feeling well.
Alex turns his head in my direction and opens his eyes. He watches me for a few seconds. “I’m not seeing the moody aura that’s often around you.”
“Alex.”
He squints while studying me from afar. “Where has the tension in your posture gone? Or on your face? I’m not getting the icy chills when I’m near you.” He sits up and puts the ice packs down. “So what happened? How did you manage to turn back into a human?”
“Very funny, Alex.”
He smiles at me, but winces in pain. “Ow, this headache is going to kill me.”
“Should I be concerned about your alcohol intake?”
“Nah. I only drink once a week, so I’m fine. But thanks for worrying about me.” He makes eyes at me.
I give him a tired look.
“Alex, don’t you have an office of your own? Where you have a couch that’s identical to mine simply because you’ve always been a jealous guy?”
“But I’m alone in my office and don’t have you by my side.”
I’m not even going to acknowledge his comment with one of my own, so I keep eating. Alex stands up and tilts his head to one side, looking at me as if I have three heads.
“What?” I say.
“I made a joke and you didn’t growl once. What—” He comes to a full stop when his eyes land on my neck, and I quickly pull my shirt up to cover it. “Artemis! Is that a hickey?”
I clear my throat. “No, it’s a mosquito bite.”
“Sure, a very sensual mosquito.” He stands in front of me.
“What are you not telling me? If you broke up with Cristina . . .” He walks to one side, holding his chin and looking deep in thought.
“Was it Claudia?”
I look away, pretending I’m not interested.
“Bingo!” he exclaims. “Wow, if I had known that Claudia would change your eternal bad mood, I would’ve played Cupid a long time ago.”
“Didn’t you have a headache?”
