Page 7 of Don't Leave Me

“Ah, you’re such a good friend,” he laughed, then started to head for the lobby elevator that led to the roof.

I grabbed my jacket and started to follow him, then noticed Michael from the corner of my eye; I turned to look at him and he was watching me from the other side of the office as someone was talking to him. I quickly looked away and continued to follow Evan into the elevators.He sure is stealthy.

The cool November breeze bit at my cheeks and I exhaled the cigarette smoke up into the air, my free hand tucked snugly in my jacket pocket. Evan and I were chatting playfully as usual; he was extremely sarcastic and funny and I always felt at ease with him.

“So, what are your plans for the weekend?”

I thought about it for a moment.

“I don’t have any. Nobody likes me,” I over exaggerated a frown, making Evan smile.

“Well, what do you say we get dinner and a drink together?” he shrugged.

I looked over at him and could tell he was nervous; his big brown eyes were a little wide, his brown curly hair blowing in the wind and going every which way - it was really endearing and adorable.What the hell? He’s cute and funny. It wouldn’t hurt to go out with him. But wait – what about Michael? WhataboutMichael?I argued with myself.He said so himself – we have to be a secret. Nothing good can come out of secrets.

“Sure,” I answered before I could talk myself out of it.

Evan looked surprised. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I nodded with a smile.

He smiled his adorable smile again. “Cool. Maybe like Friday night or something?” he asked nonchalantly.

I nodded. “Yeah, whenever. Just text me,” I said before I took a drag.

“Cool,” he nodded back, and we continued our playful banter before we went back inside.

I shrugged my jacket off on my chair and sat down, ready to start working again, wondering where Michael was now.

“Hana,” his voice was behind me.

I turned and Michael was standing there with his usual intense gaze.

“Yes?” I asked; I wanted to throw in a playfulsirbut it didn’t feel like the right time.

“My office,” he said sharply before he turned around and quickly walked to his office.

I felt like I was in trouble or something. My cubicle neighbors all looked at me with wide eyes, probably wondering what the hell I did wrong. I sighed and quickly walked down the hall to Michael’s office, opening the cracked door to peek my head in.

“Come in. Close the door,” Michael demanded, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed.

I closed the door behind me and stood there, scared shitless once again; he was still utterly gorgeous yet utterly intimidating.

“Where did you and Evan go?” he interrogated, eyeing me suspiciously.

I suddenly felt like I did something wrong.

“We went up to the roof. He asked me to have a cigarette with him,” I shrugged, trying my hardest not to show him how I wasstillso nervous around him.

“You smoke?” His eyes were disapproving, furrowed brows.

“No. I mean…sometimes. Sporadically,” I answered honestly, putting my hands in my jeans pockets.

He still stared at me. “I didn’t know you were close with him,” he went on.

I shrugged again. “We’re notthatclose. I mean, we’re friends,” I defended.

“He seems to be quite smitten by you,” he said sourly, as if he were…wait a minute. Wait just a minute. He’s not jealous, is he? How on earth could he be? There’s no way.

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