Page 15 of Shockproof

Okay, notlovingthe clumsy implication there.

It’s not like me breaking them is an every other week occurrence or something!

Slater just…likes to beprepared.

Hence a spare pair in his truck.

And one on his bookshelf.

And one at his ma’s.

And one at his dad’s despite the fact we probably only go over there together every three months.

The guy is just overly cautious…although…I guess I have broken a pair at all three of those locations.

You know I didn’tthinkI was that klutzy until right this second.

“How come I didn’t even know you preferred to be calledArleyversus Arlette?”

“It’s not that you didn’t know that,” I quietly argue. “It’s just that you always thought Arlette sounded more sophisticated than Arley. Claimed it rolled off your tongue easier and that it took less effort to remember.”

After an uncomfortably long pause, he breathlessly whispers out, “Wow.” A second slow headshake is attached to him leaning away. Creating distance. Room for his wavy, light blue words to land. “Wahl was absolutely right.”

“Well,” my tone takes a playful one, “that couldn’t have tasted good.”

“It didn’t.” Harvey struggles to smirk. “It tasted similar to bad tequila.”

“You meancheaptequila.”

His forehead immediately wrinkles in response.

“Because there’s no such thing asbadtequila.”

Rather than engage in a much more lighthearted conversation with me he somberly sighs, “I should’ve said to hell with it andendedthat conference when he called.”

“Harvey-”

“I should’veneverstood you up that first night.”

“Harv-”

“I should’veneverpickedthis joboveryou.”

Despite my mouth moving, no sound escapes.

“Youdeserveto feel like you matter, Arley.Truly. Matter.”

Pressing my lips closed seems like the most logical option to take.

“You deserve to feel the wayI knowWahl makes you feel. The way that I canseehe makes you feel even when he’s notphysically. Here.” The grated lettering indicates exactly how much it pains him to admit it. “It’s the way I know I never did.” I silently study the movement of his Adam’s apple. How his shoulders sorrowfully slump. “The way I now know I never could.”

So…yeah.

Idefinitelybroke my fucking boss.

Can I get fired for this?

“You deserve to feel like more than just the beautiful woman on a man’s arm at a gala or a benefit dinner or a Bridge tournament at the mayor’s.”

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