Page 98 of Fall Apart

I watch Grace and Kayleigh type away with matching giddy, mischievous smiles.

Grace: Too bad, so sad.

Kayleigh: Pink was a good color for you, Clayton.

I giggle looking down at my screen before I chime in.

Me: Yes, please. More pink!

I look across the room to see Clay, hanging his head and palming his face. Even from here though, I can see one of his dimples flash in a playful smile.

Grumpy Roommate: I’m going to regret bringing you three together, aren’t I?

“Alright, I’m going to go check in on him. But brunch tomorrow?” I ask.

Kayleigh and Grace both nod and I can’t help but feel this is the start of a great new chapter in my life with them. This is exactly the fresh start I wanted.

I leave them at the table, watching them start to scroll through the camera reels on their phones. As I walk over to the high top that’s now just Clay and Mr. Jensen, I laugh to myself along the way. Looking atmy phone, they’re already flooding our group chat with Clay, sending more embarrassing yet cute pictures of him from his high school days.

Looking at the pictures, that same chiseled jaw, those heart melting dimples, and that tall, imposing stature were there. But now when I reach the table, I’m still in awe of the man I’m in love with. Even in a tux, there’s no hiding the rugged, rough, and devilishly handsome man he is today. From his neck tattoo popping out of his collar to the tattooed hands dwarfing his rocks glass. All of it is the pure, masculine sexual energy that sends molten heat to my core.

I walk up beside Clay, wrapping my arm around his waist, settling against him, craving his warmth even through his tux. He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into him.

He looks down at me smiling, his dimples popping before he turns back to his boss.

“Mr. Jensen, this is my girlfriend, Lizzy.” Hearing him say that with so much pride only magnifies the molten heat inside me he commands so easily.

I take in Mr. Jensen, the man I’ve heard so much about. In person, he’s obviously athletically built, even in his late fifties. His dark, short and straight hair, is peppered with grays and he’s clean shaven. He’s very much the image of old school, traditional Utah.

But the second he smiles at me and stretches out his hand to shake mine, I see what Clay means. That smile is weird and, frankly, this man gives me the creeps.

Knowing what Clay’s told me about him in passing and how he trained him into a self-loathing robot lights a different kind of fire in me. And after talking about him with Kayleigh this morning, I do my best to hide my distaste for him. I will save that for another time because I do have things to say to him.

He eyes me curiously when I grab his hand and shake it firmly before letting go.

“Glad to finally meet you. I was wondering who could distract my best employee enough to make a mistake like forgetting to run the heaters at a job site.” He smiles like he’s making a playful, off the cuff comment, but his tone is mocking and condescending. It immediately turns my stomach. I feel Clay tense next to me and his thumb rubs the dip of my waist through the fabric of my dress.

I feign a laugh with a dismissive flip of my hand. “Oh it’s not that bad. Mistakes happen. People are human, they’re not robots. It’s why businesses have insurance.” I grin back at him, leaning hard into Clay. “Besides, it brought us together and I’m certainly not mad about that.” I feel Clay’s body relax into mine.

“Well, when you build your own company, you care about those things.” He laughs dismissively again before continuing. “It was a costly mistake. Definitely one he knows better than to make.”

He raises his soft drink, taking a sip before looking at Clay with an annoyed glare. “That’s why we spent years learning to stay organized and focused, right Clay?”

I feel Clay tense again and I look down to see those tattooed knuckles tighten around his glass. If he squeezes any harder, it’s going to shatter. He nods and gruffly replies. “Yes, Mr. Jensen.”

This is the kind of condescending asshole I deal with every day. But to see someone talk like that to Clay,my Clay, is a whole other level of entitled boomer male that I can’t stand.

I’m done playing nice with this dirtbag.

He looks back to me with that dismissive, fake grin. “That's the kind of thing I like to make sure doesn’t happen to keep my shareholders happy. Something I’m sure you know all about in whatever business you’re in.” There he goes with that tone, talking down to me again. “What is it you do exactly, honey?”

Clay’s hand slips from my side and he steps forward. I watch his posture go from tense to downright predatory as he steps toward his boss, putting himself between us.

“That’s my girlfriend you’re talking to, the woman I love. I know we go way back and that you’ve done a lot for me and I will always be grateful for that, but show her some respect and apologize right now and maybe I won’t quit.”

Mr. Jensen gives Clay an incredulous look before his eyes meet mine.

I step around Clay, brushing him back with a hand on his chest. “I love your enthusiasm and the whole protective thing is definitely doing it for me, but hold that thought. I got this.” His eyes go wide and he holds up his hands, taking a step back, clearly seeing I’m a woman on a mission, not to be disturbed.

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