Page 6 of Collision

Across the space, by the front desk, Mikaela tucks her hair behind her ears and her head is ducked down as she laughs. Her eyes crease slightly around the edges when she smiles like that, wide and toothy, and her nose scrunches when she shakes her head. She glances back towards the guy she just walked in with, whispering conspiratorially while others around them shake their heads, and that uncomfortable warmth seems to kick up a degree.

I run my hand over the back of my neck, the damp sweat sticking my collar to my skin, and bite down the urge to tell them both to get back to work.

“Damn.” Jamie sighs beside me, ignoring the way my body flinches at his proximity.When did he sneak up behind me?“It’s good to see her laugh. Sometimes I forget what it sounds like.”

“What?” I turn to him, my brow furrowing, only for him to turn away quickly - something akin to shame clouding his features. “Why would you forget that?”

“Never mind.” Jamie shakes his head quickly and practically sprints towards the door. “I should go let her know the meeting ended early.”

“Right. Yeah, that’s a good shout.” I follow suit, grabbing my jacket and swiftly moving into my own, much cooler, office and finding immediate pleasure in the gust of air conditioning that brushes over my skin. “I’ve got to get through a few contracts and files today. Familiarise myself with your books. Mind asking her to hold my calls?”

Jamie smiles and immediately I know what he’s thinking. And I know how wrong he is.

"This is going to be great,”he had enthused weeks ago. ”The three of us together will be like old times, before the chaos. Honestly things have changed. I know it will work.”Even now Jamie can’t help but cling to youthful optimism of earlier decades and I sigh as I feel myself give in to a smile.

“Yeah, no worries.”

“Thanks, Boss.” I grin.

Jamie groans. “You know I hate it when people call me Boss.”

“Yes.” Honestly, I don’t mean to take so much pleasure in his pain, but he makes it so easy sometimes. “I do.”

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