Page 40 of Exchange of Heart

Brett grinned at his widened eyes while I screeched back into traffic cackling like a big-dicked witch.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Corey

I froze for two reasons. Firstly, the man by my side looked like he’d met Santa Claus after witnessing that interaction. Secondly, I kind of liked the idea of Nora calling me a hot piece of ass, even if she was only trying to embarrass me.

‘New man?’ he asked.

It dawned on me that I had no clue who Nora’s friends at work were besides Izzy. Was this guy making small talk while the elevator climbed eight levels, or were they buddies? Nora’s a chronic over-sharer, so I cleared my throat and said the first thing that came to mind.

‘Oh, you know. I’m getting to know the guy.’

‘At nine in the morning?’

Shit.

‘Yes, at nine in the morning. Don’t you eat breakfast, too?’

‘Huh, a breakfast date before work? I quite like that idea. Might try it myself. Is that why you’ve got a little…’ He gestured to his chest.

I glanced down and groaned at the coffee stain on my chest. ‘Long story, don’t ask.’

I listened to his complaints about his new roommate during the elevator ride until his lanyard finally bounced to face me as the doors opened so I could see his name.

‘Well, Brett. Good chat.’ I gave him a firm nod and turned down the hall.

Brett continued to follow me in the same direction, but I’d already committed to the goodbye, so I increased my pace to put some distance between us. The little legs I’ve been forced to work with were a nightmare as I tried to outpace him, so I swung my hips and shoulders to the rhythm of my steps to move faster. I turned the corner and noticed my reflection. This manoeuvred powerwalk made me look like I was holding in a post-coffee demonic shit.

‘You okay, Nora?’ a nasally voice called from my right.

I stopped pacing and faced the cubicles on the right to smile. ‘Fine, fine. Just rushing to get into it all, you know?’

I darted my gaze from wall to wall but couldn’t find the face to match the voice. As I gave up, blonde hair with a frightening number of hair clips bounced in front of me.

‘You said you’d be my wing-woman, but you still haven’t messaged me back.’

I couldn’t see past the bright screen of the phone she’d shoved in my face, so I shuffled my feet backwards trying to feel my way to an exit.

‘Ah, I’ll check my calendar.’

‘No, let’s make a plan now.’

She grabbed my arm and dragged me to her cubicle. Cat photos lined the walls and, call me crazy, but it smelled like cat in here. Perhaps she’d stuffed a support kitten in her drawer for comfort pats when she was stressed. I’d recognise the stench anywhere now that Lucky had moved in and claimed his territory by releasing an astounding shit in his kitty litter. Last night’s alcohol swirled in my stomach, threatening a tidal wave of vomit over her white shirt. The lady leaned against me, her diary inches from my nose, and a ball of cat hair slid from the page.

‘Nope.’ I crab walked some distance between us, hand to my mouth.

I didn’t care if she was Nora’s boss, soulmate, or a secret millionaire. I refused to start the morning covered in cat hair. It was bad enough I’d be returning to my couch covered in it.

‘I’m busting for a wee.’ I squeezed my legs together for emphasis. ‘Message me, I’m so sorry, I’ve been so busy.’

Like a newborn giraffe, my legs and ankles waggled in Nora’s purple heels out of sight of the cat lady, down the hall to her sad little desk. Wedged between Izzy and a man I’d yet to speak to, I collapsed into my chair.

‘Nora?’

‘For fuck’s sake, now what?’ I muttered.

My chair spun on its own, and Freddie’s nostrils flared in front of me.