Page 15 of Wasted On Us

I grip the edge of the counter until my knuckles turn white. “Lucy, I want to manage this account personally.”

The corners of her mouth tug upward. “I’m sure you do, Mateo. What with your commitment to always beinghelpful.” She reaches across the desk, placing her hand atop mine and offering the most patronizing tone she possibly can. “But sometimes women feel more comfortable being helped by other women. Especially after an accident.”

“Lucy.” I plead with my eyes as much as I can. This entire display is ridiculous, and I don’t want Eden caught in the crossfire of whatever stunt Lucy has decided to pull today.

Right now, the object of my current obsession looks like a deer caught in the headlights as her wide eyes glance back and forth between us. I’d do anything to be able to reach out and soothe away those worry lines on her forehead. But I don’t dare touch Eden right now.

With a roll of her eyes, Lucy drops the pen in her hand onto the desk, letting it roll to the floor as she stands with a huff. I can barely hear it over the screech of her chair legs against the tile, but she mumbles something under her breath that sounds like ‘dickhead’ and ‘womanizer.’ I smile at Eden with a shrug, hoping she assumes the incident is just a bad day on Lucy’s end and doesn’t think too far beyond that. I’d hate for everything between us to go sour so soon, just because I had a lapse in judgment a few months ago. Well. Several lapses in judgment.

But this one’s different. In my heart and soul, I know it. Normally, I wouldn’t care this much after just having my head between a woman’s legs.

But I do care. In fact, I can’t think of anything else I even want to care about right now other than Eden and making her happy.

With Eden, it's different. It's not just the physical connection, as undeniable as that may be. It's the spark in her eyes, her laughter, her grit. It's something new, something real, something that hits me like a freight train. Something I want to explore.

I’m not just captivated by last night. I find myself anticipating all the nights to come. The idea of nurturing this connection, of building something more meaningful, more lasting, is new territory for me, and it’s a bit terrifying. But if there’s anyone worth confronting that fear for, it’s the woman standing right in front of me.

I don’t want to screw this up. Not just because I don’t want to lose our chemistry, but because I can’t bear the thought of losing what we could have in life. And it’s that potential formorethat compels me to be the best man I can be for her, in all ways possible.

Lucy snatches the clipboard from my hand, her eyes flashing defiantly. “I’ll handle this, Mateo,” she says, her voice laced with a frosty undertone that suggests I’m crossing a boundary. “C’mon, Eden,” she adds, shooting a consoling smile toward our shell-shocked client.

My protests die on my lips as Lucy ushers Eden out of the office, leaving me alone with a confused mixture of irritation and concern. The air around me crackles with the tension that’s just been released.

“What the hell was that about, man?” I hear Jacob’s voice before I see him. My good friend is leaning against the counter, an eyebrow quirked at the recent spectacle. “Two hot chicks are annoyed with you? Say it ain’t so.”

“You remember the woman who rear-ended me yesterday? The one I texted you about?” I ask, a weak laugh escaping my lips. “Well, she just rear-ended my life, and I can’t seem to get enough of her.”

Jake chuckles, but there’s concern in his eyes. “It’s always complicated with you, huh, Teo?” Jake quips, amusement sparking in his eyes as he takes a sip of his coffee. “You’re always tangled up in some web of estrogen, man. I swear.”

I grimace at his assessment. “Yeah, well, Eden’s not just some woman, Jake.”

Jake barks out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “That’s what you said about the last five, buddy. Remember Tanya? Rebecca? Now Lucy?”

I shoot him a warning glare that’s devoid of real heat. Lucy’s a sore point, but it’s not like Jake to tiptoe around anything. “Low blow, man.”

“But true.” Jake sobers, leaning forward on the desk, a knowing look on his face. “You’re a sucker for a sob story and a pretty face, Mateo. You love saving chicks. Just admit it.”

“Eden isn’t like that,” I defend instantly, a knot forming in my stomach. I can’t explain it yet in words Jake will accept, but Eden is different.

His skeptical eyebrow arches even higher. “How so?”

I ponder the question, remembering the warmth in her eyes, her fiery spirit, and the way she filled the silence with the sheer force of her personality. “She’s genuine, Jake. You know, honest to a fault. I don’t think she could play games even if she tried.”

Jake lets out a low whistle, leaning back against the counter, a smirk pulling at his lips. “You’ve got it bad, man. Like, real bad. I haven’t seen you like this, well... ever.”

“We agreed last night that we would give it an honest shot,” I confess, frustration seeping into my voice. “But something happened in the last twelve hours. Something’s off. She got right behind Lucy and stomped off without even a backward glance.”

Jake chuckles. “Maybe she’s not into you, bro. Maybe she’s just not that into the García patented charm and devilish good looks.” He smirks, clearly enjoying my discomfiture. “Or maybe, your bedroom skills have fallen into the toilet.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I retort dryly.

He shrugs, unapologetic. “What do you want me to say? That she’s madly in love with you but is just playing hard to get?”

I huff a sigh. “No, I just…” I run a hand through my hair, the picture of Eden driving away still fresh in my mind. “I don’t know what I want. My head tells me to let her go, but my heart won’t accept that as a possibility.”

Jake studies me for a moment, his teasing demeanor shifting into something more serious. “Mateo, you’ve got to figure that out. And when you do, you’ve got to fight for it. No one else can do it for you.”

Despite the heavy moment, I manage a laugh, shaking my head. “Your sage advice is always so heartwarming, Jake.”

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