Page 13 of Basil

“You wanted her to see that kiss. You knew I’d downplay it because we’re friends. You knew…she’d see it for what it was.”

“What it was, was you letting me kiss you.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “Youalways choose me when I’m there. If I said, ‘Hey, let’s go kayaking,’ you ditched your plans with her and came with me. If I said, ‘Hey, we have to work late,’ you canceled a date with her.”

I caught her hands from behind my waist and set her away from me. I took two steps back so we weren’t touching. My heart banged in my chest like a drum.

“She doesn’t fit,” Drew cried out. “You saw her at the Christmas party? She was a bitch to everyone. No one likes her. Ask anyone in the company and they’ll tell you that you and I are meant to be together.”

My eyes narrowed. “Why would I ask anyone at Stratos who I should be with? My personal life is mine. Drew, we’re friends. Though, right now, I’m wondering even if that is true since I can’t believe you’re saying the things you are.”

“I‘m saying”—tears filled her eyes—“I love you.”

I blinked, sure I’d misheard her. “The fuck?”

She tilted her head, like the answer was obvious. “Don’t tell me you don’t know. All these years we’ve never had a chance to be together. Either I was dating or you were, or we were busy with work…but now, it’s our chance. She’s gone. I’mhere.”

I stared at her. This wasThe Twilight Zone,wasn’t it? This couldn’t be my fucking life. My girlfriend dumped my ass, and my best friend was in love with me.

“Come on, Basil. You know we make sense. We work together, we understand each other’s world, we’re both successful?—”

“No,” I snapped.

“Basil?”

“We are…werefriends.” Because we obviously weren’t anymore, not if she’d just helped me lose Summer.

Buddy, she’s not a saint, but it was you who fucked up, so don’t try and shift the blame, okay?

She stepped toward me, and I raised a hand. “No more touching me. No more hugging me. No more kissing me…at all. We’re colleagues! Show some professionalism.”

She didn’t seem to be paying attention to what I was saying. Tears were streaming down her face, messing up her mascara. Her blue eyes were full of hurt. I didn’t give a shit because she’d just betrayed me in the worst way possible.

“Summer was never going to fit into your life long-term. You two were playing girlfriend-boyfriend, but now you can finally be with someone who actually belongs in your world.”

A chill settled in my stomach. I had thought Drew had my back. But now, I knew what Summer had seen all along—Drew didn’t get along with her because she had feelings for me.

“Drew, I’m going to say this now, and it’s the only time. If you step out of bounds again, personally, with me, Iwillfire you.”

That stopped her in her tracks.

Career first, right?

“Wewerefriends. Now we’reonlycolleagues. Considering your behavior and how you deliberately went about hurting my relationship with Summer?—”

“You don’t get to hold me responsible for that.” She wiped her tears. The pain in her eyes now morphed into rage. “Youtreated your girlfriend like dirt. You didn’t defend her when Gareth made comments about her golden pussy, or when Karen told her she dressed like a hobo, or when Ajay called her a gold digger…so don’t you make this my fault. You want us to be colleagues.Fine!”

She turned around and stormed out of my office, leaving wreckage behind that I didn’t know I could ever piece back together.

7

LORDY, THERE ARE TAPES

BASIL

Ibarely looked up when Jessie walked into my office.

We hired her last year, and she was one of the best communications people I’d ever worked with. She was in her late twenties, had a master’s in communications from Stanford and cared about people. I knew that because she fought for the people on her team to get raises. I liked her as a leader.

“Good afternoon.” She sat across from me, her tablet in hand. She took copious notes whenever we had a meeting, which meant that she knew exactly what I needed and gave it to me—whether it was a speech, a press release, an internal announcement, or changes to the website. Jessie never let me down.

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