Page 76 of Silver Linings
Sooner it is, then.
“As far as I know, Tony always acts above board with the residents of the building, though I did see him and Mr. Harris chatting in the lobby the other day while they drank their morning coffee. Do you think they’re organizing some sort of cabal?” Antagonizing him is probably not the wisest course of action, but I can’t help it. I’m feeling more myself these days than I have in a very long time, and I’ll be damned if I let him ruin my good mood.
Fairbanks levels me with a withering glare. “I informed you upon employment that there would be no?—”
“Are you accusing me of something, sir?” I stand so I can meet him eye to eye.
He shrinks away from me ever so slightly, but he seems to catch himself, remembering that he’s the one with the power in our dynamic.
“I’m just here toremindyou of the consequences of such breach in our terms of employment. Fraternization with tenants will be met with immediate dismissal.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“The walls have eyes and ears, Mr. Wells. You’d do well to remember that in the future.” Then, he departs, leaving the stench of Drakkar Noir floating through the air behind him.
I almost feel guilty lying. I did tell him he had nothing to worry about in this area when he hired me. I was being truthful then. Ididn’tintend to fall for Silver, actively avoided it in the beginning, but it happened, and I’m too far gone to do anything about it now.
For all intents and purposes, I’m hers.
And no job is going to stand in the way of that.
However, it did make me wonder who’s spreading gossip and what they may have seen. Did someone see me leaving Silver’s apartment a couple weeks ago? I had taken every precaution, and the only person around when I came into the building withSilver was Tony. But he wouldn’t say anything. Tony liked his stories and idle chit chat, but he cared about everyone, and felt like they were his own family. He would never do anything to hurt them in any way.
Either way, it didn’t matter. The only way I’ll stop seeing her is if she told me it’s what she wanted, even if it killed me.
But until then, it’s clear I need to find a different job before I get fired. It’s crazy how the thought of that doesn’t send me into a crisis like it would have a couple months ago. Pre-Silver, this job was my lifeline, my ticket to staying in New York, and I’m not sure when it happened, but now,shewas. She came in and flipped me inside out, forcing me to show her my tender, pulverized insides, and I survived, was better for it even.
There are thousands of businesses throughout the thirteen miles that encompass Manhattan. I’ll have to find something to tie me over until I figure out what I really want to do, develop a more permanent plan now that the situation with The Langham was a bit fraught. I don’t want to have to hide what I feel when I’m around Silver. I want to be able to wake up next to her, to bring her her favorite coffee in the mornings, tonotsneak out in the dark hours of the morning. After all she’s been through, she deserves to know that she’s my priority.
Two years ago, Maddox told me I needed to learn to live life the way I wanted, and I think I finally understand. I ran away and found my home again, here, with my friends and a woman I was falling for. This is where I want to be, where I want to build a life. It’s high time I figure out a plan for it—my own plan, no one else’s. No more wandering around aimlessly, adrift on an unpredictable wind, or living according to someone else’s whims. If Silver can be brave enough to risk everything she has to save the store, I can be brave too.
I pull out my phone, feeling the urge to talk to her.
Hendrix
So I’ve been thinking…
Silver responds almost immediately, and it brings a smile to my face.
Sunshine
Sounds dangerous. Are you wearing safety gear?
Hendrix
Hilarious. Do you have plans tonight?
Sunshine
There’s an evening squirrel watching club I was thinking of attending in Central Park.
But I could be convinced otherwise.
Hendrix
I’ll pick you up at the store.
Sunshine
