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“I can handle my own,” I tell them both. I know I don’t have anything to prove, but I’m wired to make it known I refuse to be misconceived.
Setting his sights back on me, his hands findthe pockets of his baseball pants as a blue bubble spouts from his lips before popping in the air.
Blue raspberry. I can smell it.
I’m noticing more than I’m warranted with this man—now a fellow coworker.
“Chatty and laced with venom. Cute.” He grins, and fucking hell it’s adorable.
Good thing I’m immune to charm.
“Venom? That’s a quick judgement for someone you just met,” I drill into him, playfulness in my tone.
“I’m a good judge of character. My guess is time will tell.” August smiles wide, and I’m anticipating there will be a good dose of verbal sparring to come in my future as a Striker with this guy.
Bring it on.
“It’s a good thing I don’t let people get close. Something you’ll also learn real quick about me.”
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we, Mama?”
Mama? Who is this guy?
I do nothing but smile, attempting to laugh off his boyish threat. Thankfully for me, Navy cuts in, stealing me from the mustached hottie. “Well, time’s up. We still have a lot of ground to cover before we get you started on your new employee paperwork. Gus, it’s been fun,” Navy dismisses him, and he nods.
“Ladies.”
Just as we turn to leave, I hear my name echo from behind us. “Oh, Tenley?”
Staying eerily still, I cock my head to the side, enough to make eye contact but not give him my full attention.
“Welcome to Makers.”
1
TENLEY
Present Day
“Hi, Mom. How was the flight?”
“Hi, sweetie. It’s so good to hear from you. The flight was long. Your father slept the majority of it. Oh, to be oblivious to the world.” She chuckles, making me miss her even more.
My parents just left for a trek through Africa, deciding to take retirement by storm and experience new adventures.
I admire that about them.
Since Mom sent me her flight details before they left, I was hoping I’d get a chance to talk with her before they boarded their connecting flight.
There’s a heaviness sitting in my chest. One I’ve kept bottled inside and need my mom’s genuine spirit to ground me.
“He really can sleep anywhere, can’t he?” I ask teasingly.
“Anywhere. I could be abducted by aliens, and the man wouldn’t have a single clue.”
I laugh, settling myself into my bed for the night, my thoughts eating me alive. “Mom?” I whisper.
The silence in my condo is close to deafening; something I’ve become accustomed to, living alone.
