Page 9 of Wings of The Wraith
“No, that part was me trying to get lucky. I saw the lights on and wished for luck, but also, I wanted to check you were okay getting home. Your car still in the garage?”
I nodded. The dreadful thing had given up on me last week. The whole engine needed to be pulled apart because there was a slow oil leak and a blockage that caused the car to overheat.
It was so strange. The car got so hot I thought it was going to blow up. Then the heat busted the electronics and I couldn’t control it. I ended up crashing the car in a park. It ran off road and down the green and headed straight for a tree. Except, it just came to a vapid stop before it crashed into the tree. Like someone held it back.
Crazy. Maybe the heat got to me and made me imagine it all. I didn’t know.
“It’ll be in for the rest of the week.”
“Sounds like it’s going to cost a bomb.”
“Yes, it probably will with my luck.”
“Well, I know a guy if you need to buy a new car at some point. My car’s also on offer if you need it.”
Okay, that was sweet. Definitely sweet.
“And what will you do?”
“Use my motorcycle.” He laughed. “It’s the very least I could do for you on your birthday.”
I’d been careful not to tell anyone it was my birthday because I didn’t like the fuss. Particularly, since I couldn’t celebrate like I wanted to.
“How did you find out?” I smiled.
“That part’s a secret. Happy birthday Alyssa.”
“Thank you.”
“If you’re ready to go I can take you home now,” he offered. “If you don’t want dinner, we could get some birthday ice cream.”
It was eight. I should have left three hours ago, but most nights saw me hanging back here to get the work done. I hated doing that. It meant my personal work suffered.
Also, it wasn’t appreciated. But if I didn’t do what I was doing I’d end up with triple the work tomorrow. The new scientific journals were also coming tomorrow so I’d have that to deal with too.
Better to stay.
“I have to stay, at least for another couple of hours.”
He frowned. “Alyssa, it’s not good to keep doing that. They’ll expect it and it’ll stop them from hiring more help.”
“I know, but I couldn’t bare the extra stress from Tony.” He was my boss. An asshole of a man who loved to dish out orders. Stress from him was the part I wanted to avoid as much as humanly possible.
It wasn’t worth it, because then he’d put me on some performance management plan for this stupid job.
“You take care of you. I’m going to order a taxi for you in half an hour. You may not want to be my girl, but that won’t stop me from caring.”
God, when he said things like that it was difficult not to give him a chance.
“Thank you.”
“Enjoy the rest of your birthday somewhere that’s not here.” He winked at me then sauntered away.
He was right. I did too much here. I looked at my desk and frowned. There was still a lot to be done. The stacks of books without catalogue references had piled up as the day wore on. I couldmaybeget through half of them if the computer could hack it, but I didn’t have my hopes up.
A snapping sound caught my attention.
Then footsteps.
