Page 8 of Game Over

“Look, the notification!” Shoving the phone closer to her face before burying my face in the covers like an embarrassed teenager. My heart was going a million miles a minute, and my hands were clammy. Why are my hands clammy?

Cheese and rice, pull yourself together, woman.

“Ooh, he followed you. Well, did you follow him back?” Emma smirked as she scrolled through his page before looking over at me.

I shot up in bed, flinging my arms out wide in disbelief. “No, I didn’t follow him back. Do I follow him back? Why do I feel like I’m in middle school all over again and overthinking every little thing? I’m even getting butterflies in my stomach. I am an almost thirty-year-old woman. WHY am I getting butterflies!” I scrunched my nose up because, honestly, what the fuck.

“Girl, I love you, but you’re getting in your own head again. Take a deep breath, and here I did it for you. It looks like he doesn’t share much or follow too many people either. Probably why I couldn’t find him earlier when I tried to look him up.” Emma reached out to pat my hand in her own show of comfort. Throwing myself back against the pillows, I yanked the covers over my face.

“Of course, you already tried to do your investigation. Well, that could be a good thing, I mean, not everyone is big on social media, so that’s okay. Gah, I hate that I didn’t really get to talk more to him today. Em, he was even more attractive in person. He had the prettiest blue eyes, the smoothest voice, and he even had glasses! Gave him a total hot nerdy vibe, and you know that’s my type.” She pulled the covers down as I was talking, and I peered at her out of the corner of my eyes.

“Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and get another shot. At least the other day, he didn’t do the weird thing and come to interrupt your sets. That always gives me the ick, like we’re working out, please don’t interrupt me to make small talk and hit on me.”

“Small talk in general gives me the ick.”

“You can say that again. Feel better now that your mini freak-out is over?”

“Yeah, I do, thanks Em. Thanks for not judging me whenever my brain decides to go off the rails. I love you.”

“I love you too, girl, and it’s no problem. Now let's get some sleep so you can make me breakfast in the morning. ”

“Yes, dear.” I laughed and rolled over and got back on my phone. No other notifications, so either he didn’t mean to follow me or maybe didn’t realize he had. Either way, it was a step; I just wasn’t sure in which direction. Exhaustion hit me quickly, so I plugged my phone in and drifted off to sleep, thinking of the most beautiful ocean eyes.

CHAPTER 5

Not My Kind of Cardio

This workout wasn’t doing anything to clear my head like normal. After that work call interrupted us, all I had been thinking about was Allie. On one hand, I was ecstatic because what were the odds we worked at the same location? But on the other hand, there could be rules against coworkers dating—if we made it to that step. I’d already read through the employee manual once, but I’d need to comb through it again to see if there was anything in there about this.

All afternoon, thoughts of her plagued me. Those skin-fucking-tight black jeans that hugged every curve. Those plump, shiny pink lips and stunning forest eyes. They weren’t only green or brown, but a mixture of them. They had a deep green ring around the outside that lightened as it went in, brown splattered around her pupil, with drops of gold in the middle. That raspy voice with a slight drawl in it. I grabbed my phone and pulled up my group chat with Jacob and Carson.

Spencer: You fuckers gonna be on tonight?

Carson: Well hi to you too fuck face

Jacob: Maybe if you play your cards right ;)

Spencer: Yea no thanks buddy, we don’t know where that things been. Yall wanna play a few rounds?

Jacob: :( that hurt my feelings I don’t wanna play with you now

*Jacob has left the chat*

*Spencer has added Jacob to the chat*

Carson: He’s right man, no offense

Jacob: Sorry that I wanna show the ladies some love out here

Carson: You show them anymore love and you’re gonna end up with a kid

Spencer: Ok enough about Jacob and his activities… We playing or not?

Carson: What’s got your panties in a twist tonight

Jacob: Is it that girl?

Spencer: I’m never telling you fuckers anything else