Page 25 of Between Takes
My head snapped around to meet his sparkling eyes. “You did that on purpose?”
I don’t know why I was shocked. He had a volatile reputation.
Shaun looked away, remorse softening the edges of his face. “Yeah, sorry about that.” He sat up, bumping my shoulder as he went. “My point is, I’d like us to start over. I misjudged you, and – I don’t know – maybe we could be friends.” He shrugged, gifting me a sheepish smile.
“Friends with my boss?”
“Why not? It’s not like anything you do for me could be construed as normal.”
He had a point. If I’d taken any other boss to task like I did him, I’d have lost my job on the spot. There wouldn’t have been any bribes.
“Friends get involved in each other’s personal lives.” Did that sound bitter?
The smile overtook his face. “I’m an ignorant dickhead?”
It wasn’t news to me. I crossed my arms and waited.
“You were only trying to help. I shouldn’t have lashed out.” Shaun’s sincere gaze bore into mine, imploring me to forgive him. “In my position, it’s hard to trust and easier to push people away. It’s a bad habit, and I’m sorry I inflicted it on you. I’ll try to do better.”
I wasn’t naïve enough to believe it wouldn’t happen again. Still, the optimist in me hoped for an overnight change.
Maybe it won’t be so bad, being his friend.
He sounded sincere. And other than dragging me out of bed and making me jog, he’d actually been nice all morning. Maybe it could work.
“Okay, but on two conditions,” I muttered, taking a sip of my melting smoothie. He bit his lip and gestured for me to get on with it. “I get Sundays off.” He opened his mouth to argue and I pointed my finger at him. “Uh, wait. I get Sundays off. You don’t text me or call me unless it’s a genuine emergency and you’re bleeding to death. Understood?”
He nodded, another smile playing at the edges of his lips.
“And quit waking me early on down days or I’ll take back my offer of friendship.”
He laughed, and I mean really laughed. It was a beautiful sound that I needed to hear more often.
