Page 27 of Just A Little Fling

“Hey, Levi. I saw Mr. Weatherly leaving. I’m sorry I took so long.”

“It’s fine. He can get water on his own floor.”

“Is everything okay?” Jack was a great secretary, but if I told him my suspicions, he would panic. I waved him inside my office.

“Yeah, they’re just concerned that I’m not as dedicated to the cause as I used to be. Come on in and join me. I think I’m done for the day.”

“The cause of rich people divorcing each other?” Jack asked as he settled into the other chair. His absurdly deep baritone was at odds with his sweet demeanor, which was always such a contrast. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone another human being, but it was overlooked with his naturally reserved demeanor. All that was well and good, but snarky Jack was my favorite Jack.

“Those rich people’s divorces bring in money.”

“What are you talking about? Our billable hours have gone up every month since last fall, and they were steady before that. We consistently beat our monthly projections. They think you should be bringing in more hours?”

“Yeah, they’re concerned I’m not putting in the proper amount of time our clients deserve.”

“They’re concerned about you not putting in billable hours, or they’re concerned about me leaving early?”Shit.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because I’m the only assistant who leaves at four-thirty on the days I have school. And my late days are only five-thirty. Everybody else stays until at least eight. Some of them are pretty salty that you let me go early.

“Have they told you that?”

“Yeah.” Jack sighed heavily. “It’s been brought up at the assistant meetings. Multiple times.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Jack shrugged instead of answering.

“You couldn’t do anything about it. My college schedule is what it is, but lucky me, I’m in my second to last semester, so it’ll be all right.”

I wasn’t sure that was true, but I’d do what I could to protect him. Being in his last year was helpful. “I should know this, but what are you studying?”

“Human resources with a concentration in compliance.”

“That’s right. Well, fuck it. Let’s leave for the day and really piss them off.”

“No argument from me. I have a paper waiting to be written tonight.”

* * *

My movie blared in the background while I stared at my phone unproductively. I considered sending an invitation to Nico. He’d turn me down, of course. We’d been in this weird, polite space since he’d moved in after he’d been clear that he wasn’t interested in hooking up or even being friendly. When we passed each other coming and going, we politely said hello and goodbye. I’d halfheartedly toyed with the idea of going out, but it felt like too much work and was unfair to whoever would come up lacking.

The insistent ring of the doorbell jarred me from my stupor on the couch. My movie was still playing but couldn’t be heard over the nonstop buzz at the door. It almost sounded like someone had fallen against the buzzer rather than ringing it. The closer I got to the front door, I could see that’s precisely what had happened. Someone was leaning against it, and I’d been watching that shape for so long that I knew exactly who it was.

“Babbo!” Nico slurred the minute I opened the door. “I didn’t think you’d be home.”

“Where else would I be?”

“I dunno. At a club? At work?”

“Yeah, no, I think that’s more your thing. Is that where you were tonight?”

“Doesn’t matter. We should hook up.”

“You said that was off the table, remember?”

“Nooooo, I don’t remember that.”

“It happened, Sweet Boy.”

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