Page 78 of Sassy Love
Miles turns back before slowing to a walk and meeting me at the edge of the sidewalk. “What’s going on? Talk to me, Rawlins. Or I’m calling Ruby.”
I try for a laugh, but it comes out strangled.
“Ah, shit. I knew this would happen.”
“You knew what would happen?” I look up into the brown eyes that are filled with empathy and a streak of amusement.
“You and the feisty blonde.”
“She has a name, Milo.”
I rarely call him that, because he hates it. But the guys referring to Carlie as the ‘feisty blonde’ almost makes my skin crawl.
Like she’s some stuck-up bitch with no depth.
She’s far from shallow.
She’s impossible and incredible.
She’s stunning and sassy.
She’s gor?—
Oh fuck.
My face must have registered the realization, because Miles slaps my shoulder. “You’re a goner, bud.”
“Fuck off, Hammond.”
“Hey, I never said it’s a bad thing.” He grins at me.
I bend over, gripping my knees. The deep breaths flooding my lungs still burn. And he’s right. The line between love and hate is a fine one, and I just obliterated it out of existence.
“Come on, let’s grab a coffee. My treat, you poor sap.”
I shake my head at him.
“It’s all downhill from here, you know.” The joy on his face contradicts his words. Asshole.
“Your turn’s coming, Milo.”
He snaps an arm around me, pulling me into a headlock. I uppercut him, and we fall apart laughing.
Coffee. Coffee would be good.
The closest Starbucks is luckily not too busy this early in the morning, and we grab coffee and bagels. Miles heads off, making me promise to text if anything develops between Carlie and me, and I make my way home to shower and get ready for the day.
An hour later, I’m running out the door, already five minutes late.
When I reach the office, I do the rounds, saying good morning to everyone but Bob. Him, his candy trash can, and sideways deviant looks can go die in a hole.
Carlie sits at her desk, working at her laptop when I open the door to the fish tank.
She looks up and smiles as I pad to my desk. “Coming in late already, tardy Cowboy?”
“Three minutes is hardly late, Princess.”
She stills and frowns. “On time is late by default.”
