Page 102 of Not Safe For Work

“Yeah, seems like he knows what he’s doing,” I murmur.

I realize it’s been at least ten minutes since I’ve spotted Olivia. My eyes drag through the space in search of something sparkly. They finally land on her tucked into a small table in a dark corner.

With Ian the Asshole.

She’s giggling.

And his hand is in her fucking hair.

Seething, I look back at Daanesh. “Any chance he plays rugby?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

OLIVIA

“You…I…but…”Words fail me as I take in everything Gavin just unveiled. “I thought you hated me.”

“What? Why would you think that?”

“You were just alwayssoprofessional. We never talked about anything but work. You weren’t like that with anyone else in the office.”

He drags a hand through his hair and rolls on to his back. “Yeah, I was worried about making you uncomfortable. It was your first real job.” He pauses, sighs. “And then once you started dating Ian…I’m sorry. I know I was a dick sometimes. I?—”

“Can we go back to the part where you love me?”

Gavin reaches a hand around my middle and tugs me until I’m on top of him.

“Are you really gonna make me say it again?” he teases.

“I like when you say it,” I murmur, settling between his legs.

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

Why? Because his feelings mirror my own. Because Gavin Scott knows me, the real me. Because there’s no part of myself I’ve hidden from him, nothing I’ve downplayed or exaggerated, nothing that isn’t honest and bare. What could ever be betterthan someone loving you through all the layers, never wanting to change a single one?

“Because I can tell you mean it.” I lay my hand on his chest, dragging my nails across his skin. He hums his approval, but then he starts laughing. “What?”

“It’s just kind of surreal.”

“What is?”

“For so long I just watched you,” he says.

“Watched me? Should I be concerned?”

“Not like that, smartass,” he continues. “I mean I’ve sat across from you for two years. I see you.” He drops his voice and wraps my hand in his. “I notice you. When you tap your nails or nibble your cheek. When your lips move in silence, and I try with bated effort to puzzle out what you’re saying. It still doesn’t feel real that I get to be a part of it now. That your nails are tapping on me. It’s like I finally get to be on the other side of the window.”

His words sit heavy in my chest, but the rest of my body melts.

“You should have thrown a rock or something. I would’ve let you in.”

He reaches over and kisses my nose, and so quietly I almost miss it says, “I love you, Sparkles.”

I whisper back, “I love you too, Scottie.”

I don’t go homein the morning.

We spend Sunday in bed, only leaving for meals. What I worried might be a fluke was not, and Gabby, still giddy over our fake-turned-real relationship, lets me borrow clothes so I never have to leave.

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