Page 39 of Sweet Pea

“I’m free. Just avoiding work,” I replied.

“Who are you texting?” he asked, spying my phone.

“Nosy,” I said, pulling it to my chest.

“It’s him, isn’t it?”

“Who?” I asked, unconvincingly.

“It is. You’re texting with Kimble.”

“He doesn’t like to be called that.” My hand shot to my mouth.

“I knew it,” Rob said, and I prepared myself for an epic battle with my buttoned-up colleague. Rob carefully removed the stack of papers from the chair in front of my desk and sat down. “Tell me everything,” he said, excitedly.

“What?” I asked, completely shocked by his reaction.

“I could tell when you walked in yesterday that something was up with you,” he said smiling. “Wait a minute.” Rob shut my office door and whispered, “You did it with him, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“You did,” he repeated. “You actually had sex with that hot biker.”

“What the hell?” I sputtered. “I thought you were going to be upset with me.”

“I was scared to death at first, but by the sound of your texts that night, it sounded like you were having a really good time. Once I knew you were safe, I was able to relax.”

“I’m sorry, I’m still confused.”

“Why?”

“I guess I thought you might also be a little upset because maybe you had a...thing for me.”

Rob stared at me silently before bursting out into a fit of laughter.

“Gee, thanks for the confidence booster,” I said.

“Callie, I’m gay,” Rob said, tears of laughter streaming down his face.

“Oh, my God. I’m an idiot,” I said, stunned.

“I’m sorry. I guess we’ve never talked about it before. I just assumed you always knew.”

“Rob, the only thing worse than my ability to tell when someone is into me or not, is my gaydar. Plus, I always catch you staring at me.”

“Of course, I stare at you. You’re gorgeous. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’d rather be like you than with you, Callie.”

I laughed.

“Now that I’ve shared, you’d better spill the beans about the biker.”

I told Rob every detail from top to bottom, except the bits about me losing my mind, and it honestly felt good to talk to someone.

“Whose engagement party are you going to tonight?”

“That’s a good question, I never asked.”

“I guess it doesn’t really matter, right? It’s not like you know any of his friends anyway,” Rob said.

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