Page 134 of Their Naughty Student (Office Intrigue Duet 6)
He fluttered his fingers. “You are the worst liar in the history of liars.”
“I am not.”
“You are.” He pushed the door open, held it for me. “Spill it, sista. What happened to put that glow on your face?”
I stared at my best friend. “I’m in love,” I blurted.
His eyes widened and a slow smile spread across his face seconds before he threw his arms around me, jerking me toward him. “That is so fabulous!” Jonah pulled back, kept his hands on my arms. “The two Doms?”
“Of course.” I moved away, heading for the parking lot. “Who else would it be?”
“This is great!” he said as though it had happened to him. “Have you told Tiff yet?”
“Not yet.”
“We have to have a girls’ night.”
I laughed, the same as I always did when he called it that.
“Maybe we should go to dinner to celebrate,” he rambled. “Fancy restaurant.”
“Not necessary,” I said when we reached my car.
“Have you told them?”
“Told them what?” I asked as I started the engine.
“That you love them.”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
“What?” He sounded appalled. “Why not?”
“It’s too soon.”
“Soon? Pfft. There’s no such thing as too soon. When you love someone, you have to shout it to the heavens.”
Deciding on tacos, I drove us to the restaurant near campus. “What if they don’t love me back? Wouldn’t I sound stupid?”
Jonah shifted to face me as I drove. “Why wouldn’t they love you back? You’re sweet, smart, funny. Not to mention beautiful.”
I blushed at the praise.
“Don’t you dare wait for them to tell you first,” he said with a huff.
I parked the car, peered over at him. “Why not?”
He shrugged but didn’t move to get out. “Because they could be waiting for you. Then you’ll all be putting off the inevitable. Just tell them. Rip off the Band-Aid quickly. Once it’s out there, you’ll feel better.”
For some reason, I got the feeling Jonah was talking more to himself than me. I’d known he had been in love with his last boyfriend. As in love as Jonah could be, anyway. He seemed to fall fast and often. But that was part of his charm.
I, on the other hand, had never been in love before. I hadn’t even had a crush. So this was completely foreign to me.
“Let’s call Tiff,” Jonah suggested with a grin. “See what she thinks you should do.” He pulled out his cell phone.
I put my hand on his arm. “How about we get through the day, make plans for our girls’ night, and I’ll tell her then.”
Jonah pouted but met my gaze. “Why?”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t feel the right time to tell her.”
His frown turned upside down. “You want to tell them first, huh?”
A smile formed and I nodded, not even realizing until that moment that I did. I wanted Edge and Cav to know how I felt before the rest of the world did.
Which meant I had until this weekend to share the news.
For whatever reason, the thought made my stomach churn.
And not in a good way.
CAV
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
“WHAT’S UP?” I SAID BY WAY OF greeting when Edge called me late Wednesday night.
“You at your hotel?”
“Yeah. Flipping through channels,” I admitted, “bored clean outta my mind.”
“I’m coming over.”
“You bringing dinner?” I asked, still staring at the toothpaste commercial on the screen. “’Cause there’s no way I can cook.”
“Chinese,” he said.
“What’re you waitin’ for then?” I joked.
A knock sounded and I laughed, disconnecting the call and opening the door.
There, in all his handsome glory, was Edge, carrying a plastic bag and a six-pack of beer.
He stepped inside, paused, his eyes scanning the small room. It was just as the housekeepers had left it, in perfect order. “Jesus, Cav. Couldn’t clean up for company?”
I gave him a light shove, closed the door behind him. “I have to get my own place.”
“Well, why don’t we eat, and we’ll figure it out.”
My eyebrows rose as he moved toward the small round table near the window. “Seriously? You wanna help me look for a place?”
He set the food down, glanced back at the bed over his shoulder. “No, not really. But I’m here. So, why not?”
“Glutton for punishment,” I told him as I joined him.
For the next few minutes, we ate dinner while perched on the edge of the mattress, eyes fixed on some cop drama on the television. I was so deep in thought, trying to figure out where I should put down roots, I didn’t hear Edge’s question.
“What was that?” I asked, turning toward him.
“I love you.”
Okay, so that wasn’t a question.
Unable to form words, I set my food down on the dresser, stared at him. “Repeat that.”
His expression was stony, a hint of fear glittering in his eyes. “I love you.”
I inhaled sharply, realizing I’d been holding my breath.
“Cav?” Edge’s voice dropped low. “Say something. Please.”
I couldn’t say anything. Words still wouldn’t form, so I took his food from his hand, set it on the dresser beside mine, then reached for him. I took his mouth roughly, my emotions coalescing in that one kiss.
