Page 109 of (Mostly) Human Resources

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said without really meaning to.

Nic reached across the desk and grasped her hand. “I’m glad you’re here, too.”

Alexys looked down at their joined hands and felt the same warmth flicker up her arm. She marveled at the size difference, lacing her fingers through his and giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Nic’s thumb stroked over the back of her knuckles. She watched his slow movements, her eyes finding the tender wound on his wrist. The marks from the rope burns were a stark contrast against his otherwise unblemished skin and crisp white sleeve. The bruises filled her with so much guilt, even if she wasn’t the one to put them there.

Nic realized what Alexys was looking at and leaned forward to catch her chin with his other hand.

“Alexys,” he said, his gaze so intense, so full of unsaid things.

She wanted to apologize. She felt responsible for the wounds on his wrists and the ones she knew were hidden by his clothes. She wanted to ask if he wasreallyokay or whether he was putting on a strong front for her sake. She wanted, desperately, to know if he remembered being stabbed, nearly dying, and if he knew about the deal she’d made to save him. And possibly, more than anything, she wanted to know if he remembered the kiss.

“Alexys, I—”

“I got promoted,” she blurted out. Somehow, it was the only thing she could manage to say.

Nic’s brow furrowed as his gaze returned to her.

“Pardon?” He sat back, withdrawing both hands.

“Well, it’s more lateral than upward, strictly speaking, and also pretty involuntary.” She made a vague back-and-forth gesture. “So, it’s really just a mandatory job change. But hey, I’m not getting fired, so … silver lining?”

His eyes searched her face for the true feelings hiding under the bad humor. “You’re not serious.”

“I am,” she nodded. “They’re giving me Elliot’s Quadrant.”

“That’s bullshit.” He slammed his fist against the desk, startling her. “That’s utter, incomprehensible, corporate bullshit! I can’t even begin to fathom how they thought this was an acceptable course of action.”

“You don’t think I can handle it?”

“Of course Iknowyou can handle it, but you shouldn’t have to.” He grit his teeth, a muscle in his jaw flexing. “You’re good at your job, Alexys. They’d be stupid to move you.”

“There’s no alternative, and I have to pay the bills somehow.” Alexys shrugged helplessly. “Turns out I’m half decent at squaring off with monsters.”

He looked ready to argue—he had been the one to save her from the Jackalopes, and he had, in fact, been the one to track down the Hollow Walker—but he saw the weary resignation in her eyes and sighed.

“I can’t believe this.” He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Promise me you’ll be safe.”

“I’m the most stubborn person you’ve ever met, remember?” she said. “There’s no getting rid of me.” Some of the tension between them eased, and Nic nodded more to himself than her.

“You are stubborn, yes. If anyone could stay alive out of sheer spite, it’s you.”

“Exactly.” Alexys smiled at him and reached across the desk to take hold of his hand again. The touch brought his gaze up to hers, and allowed her to admire the brilliant gray of his eyes. Eyes she probably wouldn’t get to see very much of now, but she refused to dwell on that. “Plus,” she added, “I’ll be getting all my information from the world’sonlywalking encyclopedia.”

“Hmm,” he mused playfully. “You will have the entire R&C team in your back pocket.” Nic’s lips tugged up into a lopsided smile. “I might even grant you special privileges and let you skip the request forms.”

Alexys feigned shock. “You would do that—you’dbreakyour precious R&C rules—for little old me?”

He opened his mouth to say something, but thought better. The playfulness left his eyes and he pursed his lips.

“Your father would be very proud of you, Alexys.”

The words hit like a physical blow, and she blinked furiously, forcing herself to keep any tears at bay. He had no idea how much those words meant to her, and somehow, because they’d come from him, they meant so much more.

“Oh, well.” She could barely speak, and she certainly couldn’t look at him. Alexys managed to whisper, “Thank you.”

She wanted to believe itso badly.She wanted to believe that she’d done right by her dad’s legacy, by his memory. That he was looking down at all she’d done and really was proud. The little girl in her that still missed him so much, still wanted to grow up and be just like him.

“He would be,” Nic insisted. His expression was so earnest it made her heart melt. “I know it didn’t go the way we wanted, but you did something no one else in your position could. And you were so incredibly selfless. You put your own safety second to mine, to Elliot’s. You survived a Haint, a witch, the Hollow Walker. What’s not impressive about all of that?”