Page 54 of My Office Rival

What was I even looking for them to say? I knew the answer in my bones. Don’t sleep with her, don’t think about her, don’t even breathe her way unless it’s to defeat her.

Jason

I’m not sure I can treat her like a rival after this, though.

The real truth. I was weak.Fucking hell.

Jonah

You know what I’d do.

Jason

I do. You’d forget this happened and then you’d destroy her.

You should do the same.

Miles

Fuck that. I made that mistake once. I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. Don’t listen to him.

My throat tightened. What if I just let myself like her? For the rest of our time here, at least? That is, if she had accepted my apology. Sex didn’t cure everything, and she’d looked like she was about to cry when she’d left the office earlier.

Miles

But if you’re into her, I say go for it, and damn the consequences.

Panic clawed up my throat, and I quickly started shucking my clothes for my second run of the day. At this rate, I would be an Olympic distance runner. Just a few miles to clear my head and I would come back, have dinner, and be fucking normal for a few hours.And apologize.

33

CYNTHIA

From my spot on the couch, I watched Jason bang out the front door for a run like the hounds of hell were on his heels. I shook my head and went back to the novel I’d found on one of the living room shelves. He was an insane person. Running at seven p.m.? No, thank you.

After a few minutes, my phone lit upwith a text from my brother.

Devon

Mom called. It’s surgery.

Oh no.I immediately FaceTimed him. He picked up, and the weathered wood behind him and bright light told me he was outside in his yard in California.

“Hey, sis.” He gave me a warm smile. Devon was sweetness and light compared to me. A little bit dopey but lovable. My parents frequently opened up to him more than they did to me, because he took everything in stride. And then he immediately told me about it, of course.

“So you talked to Mom?”

His smile dropped. “Yeah.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Dad needs surgery. They’re scheduling it now. And then a few months of bed rest and physical therapy.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly what I said. I could see Mom was worried. She’s trying to keep it together for me, but she’s stressed.”

“Typical. So that’s a few months out of work… I’m assuming their insurance will pay for the surgery?”

“It won’t.”

“How do you know?” My stomach dropped.

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