Page 160 of New Growth
I rolled my eyes and busied myself with the coffee pot, but my hands were unsteady, betraying me. I could still feel him—on me, in me. My body still buzzed, overstimulated and aching for him. I shifted my weight, pressing my thighs together, but it did nothing to ease the lingering heat.
Esther watched me like a cat that had just cornered a mouse. “You’re glowing, E.”
“Shut up.” I pressed my forehead against the cabinet.
“You are!” She pointed at me with her mug. “You definitely got some—”
“Can you not?” I cut her off, finally pouring my coffee, needing something to do with my hands.
She grinned but let it go, at least for now. “Fine. Act stupid. But I know what I know.”
I sat across from her, blowing on my coffee even though I had no intention of drinking it yet. My mind was still with him, replaying the way he looked at me before he left, the way I love you left his lips like it was the most natural thing in the world. I wasn’t used to it yet.
“You’re thinking about him right now, ain’t cha?”
I shot Esther a glare.
“Mhmm,” she hummed, leaning back.
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “I hate you.”
I spent the entire morning pretending I wasn’t waiting for his call. Or I wasn’t checking my phone between clients. Or I wasn’t counting the hours since he left my bed.Six.
But by lunch, I couldn’t pretend anymore. The insecurity I thought had dissolved in me had reared its ugly head again. It gnawed at me, twisting my stomach into knots until I felt physically sick. He promised he’d call. He always kept his promises.
Did I scare him off?
Was last night too much?
Was I too much?
I took my break early, slipping into the staff room and shutting the door behind me before dialing his number.
He picked up after two rings. “Hello?”
Just hearing his voice made my chest ache. “Hey, Puddin'. I haven’t heard from you all day.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s been so busy here. I just got out of a meeting.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Oh. Okay.”
“You okay?”
I forced a smile, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, I’m good. I wanted to know if you wanted to get lunch or something.”
“I can’t, Peanut. I gotta go to another meeting soon.”
The disappointment hit me like a gut punch. I bit the inside of my cheek. “Why are you so busy today? The comic is already out.”
“Yeah, but I still gotta market it. Plus, I got other projects going on.”
Excuses.
“Yeah. I’ll still see you tonight, though. Right? Maybe we can grab dinner at Tony’s?”
There was a pause.Too long. Was he thinking of more excuses?
“I don’t know if we can. You might be asleep by the time I get home, baby. I’m so sorry.”
