Page 72 of My Ex's Best Friend

"I just wanted to come in and tell you that your friend left a message for you," Bea says. "He says he tried to contact you through calls and texts a few times but got no answer, so he'll be here in a couple of hours. He wants to take you out with ‘the boys’." Bea does air quotes at the end.

I groan, rubbing the middle of my forehead.

Great, just great. Obviously, he didn't get the memo that I've been avoiding him.

Kiera looks at me. "Is it Chris?"

"Yes," I say. "Trust me, I have been trying to avoid him. This isn't part of my plan."

"But it's part of Chris's plan," Kiera says. I can't find a trace of anger in her voice. It's neutral.

"I’ll tell him I won't go."

"Don't do that," Kiera says, with a sigh. "I told you before, I don't have a problem if you go out with Chris."

"I can call him back and tell him you're out of the office," Bea says.

"No, Bea, it's fine. He can come in," Kiera says.

Bea looks at me for confirmation. I nod, and she leaves my office.

"I won't go, and that's my decision."

"You can't cut your friends out of your life because of me," she says. "That's controlling, and I don't want to be that kind of a girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

Kiera's eyes widen. "I-I didn't mean that. It was just that—" she stammers, the panic showing on her face.

I reach across the table and take her hand. "Kiera, relax. You're fine, breathe."

She starts to take a couple of gulps of air.

"And you are definitely my girlfriend."

"I am?"

"Just because I haven't officially asked you out in this continent yet doesn't mean that's not true. We've been together for more than two months now. And dare I say that this is the most meaningful relationship in my life."

Kiera's lips tremble, and for a second, I fear that she's about to start crying. But instead, she launches at me from the other side of the desk.

I barely catch her in my arms as she snuggles into my neck.

"Are you smelling my neck?" I tease.

"Shut up," she says, taking a good sniff. "It calms me down."

I smile to myself while I pat a hand down her hair.

“I have to go. I have deadlines to uphold.”

Kiera dances out of my grip.

She starts to gather the files off the table. "I really can't keep delaying them. It's unfair."

"What is unfair is that you are not in my arms right now."

She rolls her eyes. "I can't take advantage of my position."

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