Page 68 of Moonstruck Kiss

“You’ll come to our farewell party, right?”

She hesitates.

“Please be there, Joey. Ollie would want you there. I promise not to do anything that would expose our secret fling.”

She lets out a chuckle. “I don’t even care anymore if Mooners learn about it. They’re probably speculating already after your mum caught us sitting together in the egg chair. What I don’t want is for them to see me all emotional because then I’ll cop a lot of unwanted commiseration. I need to deal with this in private.”

I press my lips against her temple. “Please be there,” I murmur.

She stifles a sob. “Okay, fine. Now will you go? I need to cry in peace,” she says with an embarrassed laugh.

I’m struggling to contain my emotions, too. And I’m afraid that if I stayed, I’d be blubbering with her.

I cup her face and kiss her lips—possibly for the last time.

Then I leave, riding the bike fast despite the mist in my eyes blurring the way.

Chapter

Thirteen

BRAX

Lando: How are all the farewells going? Good, I hope. In the meantime, can you do a quick preliminary report on the email I just sent you? Need it ASAP. Thanks!

“What the fuck?” I stare at the screen, wanting to punch it. I hadn’t planned on working today since Ollie and I are leaving first thing tomorrow morning. There are too many things I need to do before I go. Too many people to personally thank and say goodbye to—especially Joey.

No way am I going to sacrifice my remaining time here just to please Lando. I’ve done more than enough for him to be happy with my performance. Besides, some of the things he’s been asking me to do are VP-type work. Is it really that busy over at GX that he’s getting me to do his job?

On a whim, I ring my colleague, Tony.

“Hey, Brax. You back?” Tony asks.

“No. We fly out tomorrow. You still at work?”

“Of course. It’s only six. What’s up?”

“Just checking the work situation. I’ve been hearing from Lando, and it seems it’s extraordinarily busy over there.”

Tony laughs. “We’re damn busy, but nothing out of the ordinary. But, yes, Lando’s been working extra hard. He’s doing great in just his first couple of months here.”

“Right. I guess that’s why he’s been asking me to help out a lot.”

“What? He’s been asking you to work on your vacation?”

I chuckle dryly. “I volunteered to be on call. Don’t wanna miss out on some pretty hefty year-end bonuses, you know? Plus, with the upcoming restructure, I wanna be in his good books.”

“How much work have you been doing for him?”

“Put it this way, I’ve been working the equivalent of four days a week since I got here.”

“That’s crazy!”

“I know. And he’s texted me again today, wanting some urgent work done when I’m on my last full day here. I was hoping to just enjoy the company of my family for that time.”

“Hm.”

“Hm, what?” I prod when Tony takes a long time to continue.

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