Page 131 of My Lucky Charm

The whole conversation and the way he ended it proved that I need to stop prodding. Stop digging. Stop trying to save him.

That’s not my job.

These feelings are misplaced. Misguided. And potentially damaging, so I need to do what I said I would do and be professional.

I can continue to stock his fridge, respond to his emails, send out signed photos in response to his fan mail, set up the occasional interview, and even accidentally snag him endorsement deals.

Look what happened with Jay. I lost my job over a stupid relationship.

And I may not have big career goals like Raya or my own restaurant like Poppy, but I do need this job.

I like this job.

I can do this. I can so do this.

But as the elevator bounces to a stop, my confidence wobbles.

Can I do this?

The elevator opens, and I walk into Gray’s apartment where I find Scarlett sitting at the counter, eating Lucky Charms.

At the sight of me, she races over, throws her arms around me and grins. “You’re back!”

“Course I am,” I say, hugging her back. “We’re hanging out tonight.”

“Can we eat ice cream for dinner?” she asks.

“No,” Gray bellows from somewhere in the apartment.

“Maybe after dinner,” I whisper.

“Lame,” she shouts down the hall. She runs back over to the counter where her iPad is propped up next to the cereal bowl.

Gray walks in wearing the suit I picked up from the dry cleaners, looking like he just stepped off the pages of GQ, and that little pep talk I gave myself in the elevator goes right out the window.

Keep it professional.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hi,” I say.

I won’t read into his expression, but it looks like he wants to say something else. He doesn’t, of course, because he’s Gray, and then it’s as if he suddenly remembers he’s holding two ties.

He holds them up. A red one and a blue one. “I don’t . . . I’m not . . . Which one?” He looks pained.

I feel a smile creep across my face, completely forgetting my elevator promise. In this moment of utter helplessness, he’s adorable.

He gives the ties an impatient shake, as if to prompt me to choose.

“Uh, right,” I stammer. “You can wear the red one, but the blue one brings out your eyes.”

He stares.

“Don’t wear the red one.” I keep my face neutral to make sure I’m not flirting.

He gives me a firm nod and walks away. I will my pulse to stop racing.

“Eloise?” Gray calls from the other room.

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