Page 106 of Business Casual

He licked his lips. “Everything that happened last night, everything that happened over the last couple days, was… a lot,” he continued. “But that’s not exactly why I wanted to talk this morning.”

My brows furrowed. “It’s not?”

“No.” He gestured to the food on the table. “Would you like more?”

I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m full.”

“Let’s talk in the den.” He rose to his feet and collected our plates. “You go ahead. I’m going to clean this up and then be right there.”

“I can help,” I offered.

“No, I got this. Have a seat. I’ll be right there.”

Gaping at his retreating form, it took me a few seconds to register what was happening.

Thisisa breakup.

My heart pounded as I walked into the den, taking a seat on the brown leather couch. I looked around while I waited and that calmed my nerves a bit. The décor was simple yet masculine and it smelled like Tre’s cologne. The big TV, the speaker system, and the pool table had the standard ‘man cave’ vibe. Even though it was spotlessly clean, the den looked lived in.

“You want another water?” Tre called out.

Touching my neck, I answered, “Yes, please.”

When he walked in, I stared up at him. He sat a folder and a bottle of water on the end table. And then he handed me the remaining bottle. Our fingers brushed and I felt the spark.

I swallowed hard. “Thank you.”

He sat down a few inches away from me. “Of course.”

Things had been different since I’d arrived. But the way he stared at me from arm’s length away, the intensity between us was still there. But walls that never existed before were up. I wasn’t sure what to say. I wasn’t sure how he felt. But there was something I still needed to do.

“I’m so sorry about all of this,” I blurted out. “I’m almost positive Avery’s not going to say anything, but I’m sorry. Avery threatened to report us because he was jealous, and he was trying to get back at me for cussing him and his girlfriend out earlier in the night. I’m really sorry.”

He gulped down his water and stared at me over the bottle.

All I could do was watch.

I explained what happened. I apologized. I really didn’t know what else I could say to make him forgive me.

“I accept your apology.” He put down his bottle and continued looking at me.

My shoulders slumped with relief.Oh, thank God!

“But you know I don’t blame you for ol’ boy being a bitch,” he continued.

I wiped the condensation from the bottle with my thumb and moved it to the other hand. “I felt like you were upset with me before your mom found us.”

“I was upset.” He scrubbed his face with his hands. “But it wasn’t because I blamed you for anything. I just…” He shook his head. “I was upset because of how everything played out.”

“With us?”

“With us. With your ex. With my ex. With Josephine. With—”

“What happened with Josephine?” I interrupted, remembering the conversation we had on my way out.

“She sent a clear message that she knows and that’s why I asked if she saw you leave my office.”

Dread rooted me in position. “What was the message?”

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