Page 53 of Not Safe For Work

Liv turns to me and smiles softly. “He is the best, huh? I wish I could have dated him instead of my shitty ex.”

And for the second time this month, I spit out my drink at Liv’s words. The plus side, I think the sound of it covered up the gasps from Gabby and Kadesha.

Liv turns crimson. “I meant, like, hypothetically. Like I wish I had dated someone as nice as you. Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” She pops up to follow Gabby who’s already grabbing paper towels. My arm saved most of the cards, but there’s still beer everywhere.

“It’s fine, Liv,” I say when she comes back, wiping down my sleeve. “Just went down the wrong pipe.”

She scrunches her whole face at me, another silent apology.

Kadesha hands me a new beer and motions to clink our bottles together. She shoots me a mischievous grin. “Best game night ever!”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

OLIVIA

Another week fliesby with work consuming my life. Work and texts actually. Every time I hear that little chime I salivate like Pavlov’s dog. The problem is I never know what I’m going to get. It’s fifty-fifty odds between an adorable hedgehog pun or a very direct promise of an orgasm.

My physiological receptors are a mess.

But tonight, as soon as I get home, I silence my phone and blast my favorite playlist. My flight to Mexico leaves in the morning and I haven’t started packing yet. The chances of sleep tonight are slim.

All morning, I tried googling what to wear to a work event that’s also a tropical vacation where you’re bound to see your ex multiple times a day. The results were less than helpful.

So here I am, digging through my tiny closet for the perfect pair of shoes I definitely don’t own, when I hear someone banging on my door.

I’m only wearing a sports bra and joggers, so I grab a shirt and run to the door, trying to untangle it as I yank it over my head.

My hair is an actual rats’ nest by the time I get the shirt on and open the door.

“Scottie?”

“I’ve been calling you. I was worried.”

“Oh, umm, come in?” Not sure why I posed it as a question. “Sorry. I mean, hi. I had my notifications off. Didn’t want to be distracted.”

“Are you working on something?” He looks around my apartment, totally confused. He’s probably wondering why I need to be focused. But he’s a man. And he’s not about to be in Mexico with thirty-five co-workers who know he didn’t earn the trip. He’ll probably wait to pack in the morning since it’ll only take him five minutes.

“Just need to pack.”

“That’s what I figured. I came over to help.”

“To help me pack?” I ask.

“Yeah. I know you have trouble making decisions sometimes, and…look, I did call first.”

He drops his gaze and my heart tumbles after it. Gavin is an actual sweetheart. I never knew offering to help pack was my kink, but here we are.

So much for a crush. I am very into Gavin Scott.

“You okay?” he continues. “You look a little hot?” He reaches out to feel my cheek.

“I’m fine. That was really nice of you. To come over.”

His hand is still on my face, but his fingers move down to my mouth. I didn’t realize I was biting my lower lip until he releases it from my teeth. Just a little tug with the pad of his thumb. His eyes lock on my lips, and I forget how to breathe for a moment. Heat creeps up my spine until I feel like my entire body has been turned up several degrees.

“I should go turn down the music,” I say, a little breathier than I’d like. But as soon as I break away to turn it off, I’m reminded of the sounds it was drowning out.

“What the hell is that?” Gavin asks, spinning in a circle to try and place the noise. I laugh, knowing how jarring it is for people who don’t live this close to the wharf.

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