Page 34 of Hold Me Instead
“No shit.”
“Yeah.” Charlie gripped her head. “I don’t think I can handle that, Amber.”
“Because of his hotness?” Amber nodded sagely.
She groaned out a laugh. “No! Because he’ll be watching everything I do, and after a couple weeks—maybe only one—he’ll squeeze in his way of doing things. I just know it. He’s already wearing his white coat every day, even though Daniel loosened on that years ago.” Though, the white coat mostly bothered her because he looked delicious in it.
“Then tell him to knock it off.”
“I don’t have the ‘won’t take bullshit’ gene. You and Brooke got that.”
Amber snorted. “Brooke isn’t half as good at it as me.”
Charlie couldn’t help the chuckle that came out, but it turned into a small whine. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I do. You’ve got the hots for him.”
“Amber…”
“It’s true. You always straighten out staff when there’s an issue, and you’ve had no problem voicing concerns to Daniel directly. I guess there’s a small chance it’s just a warm-up period. You know, to be comfortable around him again. But my money’s on the hotness.”
“I hate you.” Charlie unlocked her car door and opened it, tossing her tote bag inside.
“Oh, you wound me.” Amber laughed. “That’s a pitiful insult, even for you.”
“Shut up.”
“So when can I meet him?”
“You’re not helping.”
“Brooke knew him in high school. I bet she’s got some dirt on him.”
“That’s just playing into it all the more. I’m an adult woman now.” She settled into the driver’s seat. “I can handle this.”
“Sure. Yeah. That’s what this whole conversation proves.” Amber stepped back as Charlie closed her door, then tapped on the window.
Charlie hesitated but rolled it down. “What? I have to get back.”
Amber rested her hands on the open window frame, her trim, midnight-blue nails gripping the edge. “You’re going to be fine. It’ll probably be a smoother transition than you think. You’ll hardly run into each other with the schedules you keep, right?”
Charlie released a breath through puffed cheeks until they deflated.
“I bet you won’t even notice he’s there.”
Charlie let out a short “Ha!”
“Hey.” Amber poked her. “Saturday. Drinks with everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“Yep.” Amber wiggled her eyebrows. “Even Brookie will be joining us. Thank God, because she won’t tell me what’s going on, but Iknowthere’s something.”
“That sounds great, actually.”
Amber squealed. “Sweet. Whiskey Nights. Seven thirty on Saturday. We’ll get a table.” She leaned into the car and gave Charlie a peck on the cheek. “Love you, cuz!” She trotted away before Charlie could say a word.
Charlie took a minute, contemplating. An actual girls’ night out was long overdue and would be a welcome way to tune out everything else. To forget about…people. The thought alone eased her return to the office. Maybe they’d have a nice few days to wrap up a weird and stressful week, and she and Zachary could shake this awkward reunion.
