Page 9 of Mostly Loathing You

“I’m going to, um…” I say as I point toward the door to the outer office before darting out the door, Jackson on my tail.

“Are you okay?”

Nodding, I turn on the monitor fixed to my new desk before pulling out my favorite office supplies from my bag. Jackson is still lurking and I try my best to avoid looking at him. He can read me like an open book and I don’t want to admit Liam got to me.

“Okay, well…text me if you need anything…”

I nod again as he walks away. The moment he’s gone, I allow the tears welling in my eyes to drop before wiping them away rapidly in hopes of it going unnoticed. Just as I level myself out, I look up to find a petite brunette standing in front of my desk. Her long, brown, highlighted locks are draped over one shoulder and if I wasn’t in such a sour mood, I would almost consider flirting with her.

“Is Liam in?”

And suddenly, the thought of flirting with this nitwit dies. I nod, fighting the curiosity about whether it’s of a work or personal nature, but given how she asked…I’m assuming the latter.

“Yeah, uh…go right in.”

FIVE

LIAM

“What are you doing tonight?” Veronica asks as she rests her ass against the wooden edge of my desk, a seductive grin plastered across her lips.

She’s worked at Baker & Park for a little over a year, but it’s only been the last few months that she’s even remotely frequented this side of the office. Popping in every so often, Veronica is a sight for sore eyes on a bad day.

“I’m getting a couple beers with the guys.” I grin, attempting to match her enthusiastic inflection. “Why? What areyoudoing tonight?”

“Apparently…getting some beers with the guys.”

Jackson clears his throat, pulling my attention to him.

My eyes drift to him as he shakes his head frantically at me. It’s not that Jackson doesn’t like Veronica—at least not enough to have voiced it—but this isn’t my first rodeo. She does this at least once a week and sometimes tags along, but she can be…a lot when she drinks.

“I’m sorry, Veronica, guys’ night. Rain check?” I smile upat her only to find a disappointed pout on her lips. Not this again.

“Promise?”

“Would I ever lie to you?” Truth be told, there is no precedent to say I wouldn’t, but I’m not about to mention that.

“Okay.” Veronica reaches forward, squeezing my hand as she stands up. Her expression sours as her gaze drifts toward Jackson.

All right, so that dislike is mutual, apparently.

As the door clicks closed, Jackson lets out a breath that in my opinion is far more dramatic than the situation calls for.

“Penny for your thoughts, Jax?”

He glares at me, but I pretend not to notice it. “You’re toying with her.”

The judgment I’m met with leaves me irritated. He knows I’m not that kind of guy—I intentionally work not to be.

“Oh, fuck off,” I say, rolling my eyes in irritation.

“She likes you, man. Speaking from experience, being toyed with is not fun. Stop.”

Veronica is attractive; hot, even. She’s the full package, but I try my best not to shit where I eat. At least that’s what I tell myself.

“Whatever, man…” I toss a stress ball at his head, but he dodges it with ease, the ball barely skating over his dark brown hair, so lightly it doesn’t even displace it. He really is getting too used to this. I need to up my game. “So, we still hitting Harry’s after work?”

Harry’s is a small hole-in-the-wall bar around the corner from our office. It has become a sort of go-to place for us over the last year. It doesn’t exactly provide much by way of ambiance, but it gives us the laid-back environment we all want after a long day at work.

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