Page 56 of Wild Pitch
“Kylie, we’re going to spend more time apart than we’ll be together. Without a semblance of trust, we’re fucked.”
“Okay.”
“Come on, we should head out. The traffic is getting shitty.”
I leaned over and kissed Luc when we pulled up in front of my office building, lingering for as long as I could.
“If I text you during the day, can you answer? I want to make sure you’re feeling okay after last night.”
“Yes, I can answer, but maybe not right away. I will do my best not to leave you hanging.”
“Okay. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Have a safe trip, and I’ll talk to you tonight.”
I watched his Audi slip into traffic, completely disappearing before I headed into the building.
Once I got to my desk and checked my e-mail, I got buried in work. I handled Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and with the summer being in full swing, there were a ton of new and probable cases.
Midmorning, Gabby dropped by my desk.
“Where did you find Luc? Sheesh, he’s hot as hell.”
Gabby was known in the office for telling it like it was, and she never hesitated to share her opinion.
“We met on a plane. I was moving home, and our seats were in the same row.”
“Lucky you. I get stuck either with a snorer who can’t stop itching, or with a restless toddler.”
“I was the snorer, and in this case, I fell asleep on him. But if it makes you feel better, we annoyed the hell out of the other passenger in our row.”
“Great story to tell your kids.”
She couldn’t have been further off with her assessment if she tried, but it highlighted how easily people commented on whether couples had children. It wasn’t anybody’s business.
“Mmm. I guess so. We’re not there, though.”
“I told Jayson that you’re off limits. You’re welcome.”
“Thank you. Who is going tonight?”
“Cassidy, Jayson, Dory, and you. Oh, and me, of course.”
Oh great, I thought to myself. I had privately nicknamed Dory Public Health Barbie. While we all dressed professionally in the office, Dory was a bit extra. I stumbled upon her “Get Ready with Me” TikToks, and she never missed an “Outfit of the Day.” You would never guess that she worked in a state office. Some days, it looked like she was going for the office siren approach.
Luc and I chatted back and forth throughout the day, mainly because he was checking in on me. Once he boarded the plane, he stopped responding. I had to bite back my disappointment when I looked at my phone to find no notifications.
CHAPTER 26
LUC
“Hey, how were drinks with your friends?”
For the next ten minutes, Kylie recounted a story about someone named Barbie, or maybe her name was Dory? Either way, I was having a hard time following her storyline, and it was adorable to listen to.
“Are you a little drunk?”
“Umm, just a little bit.” Kylie erupted into giggles. God, I loved that sound.
