Page 48 of For Your Consideration

“Uh…” She scratched the back of her head. “Yes?” She said it like a question.

“Where’s your phone?”

She looked up like she was trying to remember. “In my bag, I think. Why?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You didn’t text me this morning. It’s reckless not to have your phone on you.”

Yeah. I knew it was the wrong fucking thing to say as soon as my mouth started moving. I saw Quinn flinch and Sutton’s face hardened as she stood up, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Are you saying that because of Sophie?” She didn’t let me answer. “Iris has my office number, Quinn’s number, and my family doctor’s number. Don’t you dare call me reckless.” Her voice was rightfully hard.

“I was just worried about you. It came out wrong.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Doesn’t give you the right to be an ass.” I heard Quinn snort.

I let out a sigh and ran my hand over my head. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just pictured you in a ditch or alone at the hospital with Sophie.”

Her eyes and body language softened at my words. She uncrossed her arms and walked past me, heading toward her desk.

I turned and followed as she went to her bag and started digging around. “I’m not always great at remembering my phone while I’m here,” she said as she opened another zipper. I didn’t know how she found anything in that monstrosity. “Sophie was not interested in waking up this morning and we were running late, so I tossed my phone in my bag early and once I was here I didn’t think about it.” She pulled it out in victory, showing it to me.

“I was worried.”

She looked down and texted something and my phone buzzed in my pocket. “I’m not used to someone other than Iris worrying about me and she saw me as I left.” She had a vulnerable look in her eye as she glanced up at me. “I appreciate that you care, even if you were an ass.”

I didn’t know what else to say. I’d overreacted. With my brothers, I knew they could handle themselves. With Quinn, she had Knight watching her back. No one was watching Sutton’s back, so I needed to.

“I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m really not used to people texting me.”

I nodded then tapped her desk. “Glad you’re okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

She smiled softly at me as I looked back at Oli and nodded toward the door. I wasn’t going to explain what had just happened to anyone. I’d needed to know Sutton was safe and although I shouldn’t have snapped at her, I’d still needed to know.

“Want me to text you back every morning too?” Quinn asked as I passed her standing in her doorway. Amusement danced on her face and her eyes were bright.

I didn’t bother replying and headed back to my car with Oli trailing behind me. I could feel the fucking texts coming in on my phone. As I buckled in and pulled onto the road I glanced over at Oli.

“Not a fucking word.”

14

Sutton

Ilaughed as Sophie pulled a piece of grass off the pile I had made in front of her and threw it at me, letting out a giggle because she thought it was the funniest thing in the world. The sun was shining and spring had fully set in. Iris and I had decided to get out and enjoy the beautiful day with Sophie at the park.

“You are just the craziest girl,” Iris cooed at my daughter from her spot at the table across from me. “How’s work going?” This time she looked up at me.

“It’s great. There was a lot to figure out, but my favorite part is actually getting to see the impact we’re making. How many people are getting access to the services and being a support through one of the worst times of their lives.”

“I’m so happy to see some light in you,” Iris said, leaning forward and patting my hand with a smile. I opened my mouth to respond as my phone buzzed. I glanced down at it, smiled, and then looked back up at Iris. “And who might that be?” she asked with a lifted eyebrow.

“Just Asher,” I replied sheepishly while she hummed and leaned back, watching me.

“Just Asher? That young man who took you and Sophie to the work event, and then to the zoo, and who seems to text you a lot?”

I didn’t bother adding the fact that he’d gotten mad when I hadn’t replied to one of his texts the other morning or the fact that he showed up at the office, gruff and short with me. At first I’d gotten my back up, ready to push back at him. But then I saw the tightness in his shoulders and jaw. The way his eyes moved up and down my body, almost like he was checking me over to make sure nothing was wrong with me.

The only person over the last two years who ever needed to talk to me was Iris, and even that was new. Quinn texted me now and then but obviously not while we were at work. There was a spark of something, of excitement maybe, knowing he’d been worried about me.