Page 44 of Making It Burn
Beau
Istood outside the office building on Monday morning, staring at the glass doors like they might bite me.
“You can do this,” I muttered.
It’s just work.Just a normal Monday.You definitely did not make out with your colleague two nights ago and then get ghosted.
A woman walking past gave me a concerned look.
“I’m fine!”I called after her.“Totally fine!”
I was not fine.
I’d checked my phone approximately seven hundred times since Sunday morning.Mason had not texted.Had not sent smoke signals or carrier pigeons or any other form of communication acknowledging that we’d kissed like our lives depended on it.
I took a deep breath, straightened my tie, and walked through those doors like I was heading into battle.
Which, let’s be honest, I kind of was.
The elevator ride felt like it took nineteen years.I’d strategically timed my arrival for 7:47—late enough that most people would already be at their desks, early enough that I wouldn’t look like I was avoiding anyone.
Even though I was definitely avoiding someone.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped into the hallway, my heart pounding like I’d just run a marathon.I could see the conference room from here—empty, thank God—and my office was just around the corner.If I moved fast, I could make it without—
“Beau!”
I jumped about three feet in the air and spun around.
Lisa was standing there with two cups of coffee, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.Rough weekend?”
“What?No.Fine.Great.Weekend was great.”I was talking too fast.I forced myself to slow down.“How was yours?”
“Boring.Travis and I just binged-watched some Netflix show about a serial murderer.”She handed me one of the coffees.“You, on the other hand, look like you murdered someone and are waiting for the cops to show up.”
“I don’t—that’s not—I’m just tired.”
“Uh-huh.”Lisa’s eyes narrowed.“Did something happen?”
“No.”
“Beau.”
“Nothing happened.I’m fine.Everything’s fine.”
“You said ‘fine’ three times in ten seconds.That’s the opposite of fine.”She leaned in, lowering her voice.“Oh my God, did you hook up with someone?”
“No!”
“You totally did!”
“Can we please not do this right now?”I said through gritted teeth.
“We’re absolutely doing this right now.Come on, spill.What happened?”
“Lisa, I swear to God—”
“Morning, Beau.”
