Page 15 of Stand By Me

"Don't worry." Clay stepped around him. "I'm leaving."

He ran down the stairs without looking back, his chest burning as if he'd run ten miles already.

CHAPTER SIX

Mario did not spend the next few days thinking about Clay and how that moment in the foyer could have been his last chance to make a move.

He didnot.

Maybe he didn't work with the usual level of enthusiasm, and refused to go out with either Ben, or Andie and Carina, but it didn't mean anything. He was simply tired. Spring was barely even there and the winters were always hard for him, so. It could all just as well be the weather.

He knows where you are, he kept telling himself.He knows where to find you if he wants to.Silence means that he doesn't.

Sadly, Mario wasn't a novice when it came to people blowing him off—both gently and not so much.

All the self-talk about letting it go failed miserably on Tuesday morning, though, when he received a call from the administrative office asking if he could show the security team around one more time.

"If you're busy, we can send someone else—"

"I'm not!" he cut in, wincing at how overeager he sounded, but if the woman on the other side of the line thought he was acting weird, she didn't comment on it.

"Great," she said instead. "Is tomorrow morning fine?"

"Yes." Mario grinned at the coffee he was holding in the staff kitchenette. "It's fine. I can meet them at nine down in the foyer."

"I'll relay the message. And thank you. Director Sato appreciates you helping out."

Let's hope she remembers that when it's time for the year-end bonus, he thought but didn't say.

Andie appeared at his side the moment he disconnected.

"What has you grinning so hard?"

He looked around making sure the place was empty before turning to face her.

"I may have another shot."

"With the hot security guy?" She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the small table. "Did he call?"

Mario shook his head. "No, he doesn't have my number. It was the administration. The security company wants another walk-around or something, I'm not sure. They asked if I could do it once again, so I said yes, of course."

Andie sat back with a sigh. "Lucky you. Why don't I get to have a hot security guy come and sweep me of my feet?"

"Next one is yours, how about that?" Mario nudged her leg with his. "Although not Clay's partner, he's not straight, either."

"All the good ones aren't."

"Trust me, we have our share of assholes, too," he told her, grimacing as he remembered a few.

"I know, I know." Andie waved him off. "I didn't mean to kill your buzz. I am happy for you!"

Mario grinned. "Thanks. I'm determined to at least give him my number this time. Jake or no Jake."

"Ask Carina to create some diversion, if needed. She'll totally do it."

"That's… not a bad idea, actually."

"That's because I'm smart." She took a sip of his coffee and gave him a winning smile. "You should listen to me more often."

---