Page 68 of Loathing My Boss
That turns my flesh to fire, so I do the only thing I can to escape, slipping gracelessly from his arms and into the lake.
Chapter 23
?
What excellent light reading this is.
Viktor
I love my life.
This, all of this, is everything I’ve ever dreamed it could be—minus some of the physical delusions I’ve allowed myself, but they hardly matter when Crisis slowly seems to be warming up to me.
Right now, we’re in her home, in her room, onherbed, beside Potato’s tank. After today’s conversation at the lake, why she’s so guarded makes sense. Yet, even though she has every right to put up walls upon walls against a world that has been socruelto her…she still trusted me with information that made her voice quiver.
If I knew how to, I’d professionally assassinate anyone who hurt her as a child, making sure the best jobs they could find were dead-end service work.
But since I don’t have names, I can’t. I can’t do much to fix the past. I’ve learned that time and again.
What I can do—what Crisis hasallowedme to do—is read to her, while she cuddles her pillow and lets me pull my fingers through her hair.
Last night, after my writing marathon to catch up on my word count goals, we got back way too late for a bedtimestory.
Tonight, I’m unveiling the wonders ofHow to Make Your Enemy Fall for You. With commentary. Of course.
“In life, unless something truly heinous has transpired, an enemy is often a friend in disguise,” I read. I comb. I murmur, “Sotrue.” I continue reading, “Human sensibilities are quite fickle. One small, sincere act of kindness can overturn the opinion of even the most hateful of beings.” I slip my thumb around the shell of Crisis’s ear. “What small act of kindness will soften your heart, sweet pea?”
She snuggles, mumbles, “Food.”
Duly noted.
I proceed, “Assuming, however, this is not your goal. The following chapters of this book are for you as they rest in the speculation that your enemy is the bane of all existence, deserving only of thorough decimation. The sort of eradication I intend to provide steps toward is how one might obtain possession of the heart—so one might then crush it.
“Warning: should you follow this guide, donotequally fall in love.”
I look at my sweet pea, watch her chest rise and fall, scan her bare shoulder, obsess over her birthmark.
Her eyes open to find me watching, but I don’t stop.
I murmur, “Did you catch that warning?”
She rolls her eyes. “I had absolutely zero intention of making you fall in love with me, Viktor. Is this book really categorized as self-help? It sounds like a joke.”
“It, actually, has excellent reviews. Many of which point out how hilariously charming it is and how few realized it wasn’t a joke until their lives had changed for the better.”
“Wild.”
“Unrelated, do you want a snack?”
“I don’t have any food here right now, and I already brushed my teeth.” Her lashes flutter closed. “You won’t manipulate my feelings that easily.”
“Yes, well. I suppose I’ll just have to try harder.”
She mumbles something inaudible.
“Is it bedtime, sweet pea?”
Weakly, she nods. I refrain from kissing her forehead as I exit my Kindle app, lock my phone, and stand. “Goodnight, Crisis. Goodnight, Potato.”
