Protect Me Not ((Un)Professionally Yours 2)

He was gone before she could respond, and the void that remained in his place could not be filled with any amount of work, music, or television for the rest of the day. His absence didn’t leave her feeling liberated this time.

It left her feeling lonely and somewhat melancholy.

“Morning, Sunshine,” Chance Griffin cheerfully greeted Ty the following morning. The two men had gotten into the habit of running together every day, before Ty’s shift started. Ty preferred solitude on his pre-dawn runs through the mostly empty, quiet streets, but when he had foolishly let it slip to the other man that he ran this route most days, Chance had invited himself along. And he had showed up every single day for the last eight months—despite Ty’s lack of interest in making conversation.

Ty grunted a greeting and began his stretching routine while he silently listened to Chance rave about his epic weekend.

“I mean, this woman was perfect, legs up to here…” He indicated toward his armpits. “Our chemistry was off the charts, and I was just about thinking she could be the future mother of my kids, y’know? But fuck it, when we got home, Colby was in the living room watching some historical twaddle on Netflix. She had rollers in her hair, f’ fuck’s sake. Real mood killer. Mindy was good to go. But Colby’s death stare took me right out of the moment. I gave Mindy some taxi fare and sent her on her way. How the fuck am I supposed to live like that, mate?”

“Why don’t you move?” Ty asked, as they set off at an easy, loping pace. Fuck, he hadn’t meant to ask, but Chance had a way of drawing him in, despite himself.

The big, garrulous Australian was likable. He didn’t live in one of the Worth Manor company apartments, instead he shared a townhouse with company CFO and operations manager, Colby Campbell, in Baron’s Court. They were unlikely housemates and seemed to mostly ignore each other’s existence. It was an odd arrangement, and Chance liked to bitch about Colby’s strict rules—as if washing your coffee cup was such an unreasonable request—but for the most part they seemed to make it work.

“The rent is great considering the location and size of the place. Maybe I should hook her up with someone. That way she won’t be spending Saturday nights at home watching boring old-timey dramas.” Chance paused and Ty kept his gaze straight ahead as he felt Chance’s eyes slide to him. “Say, I don’t suppose—”

“No,” Ty cut him off before he could form the question.

“It would do you good get out sometimes too, man.”

“I’m fine,” Ty said.

Chance had started inviting himself around to Ty’s place for drinks after work as well. Sometimes it felt like a puppy had latched onto Ty and followed him home, determined to be his friend. Ty knew he should have put a stop to it, because now Chance seemed to think he could comment on Ty’s personal life.

Or lack thereof.

“So, how was work this weekend?”

Soon they would take the turn onto Margravine Road and kick up the pace. Then Chance would have to shift his focus to breathing instead of this endless small talk.

“She…” For some reason Ty hesitated to say Vicki’s name. It was ridiculous, it wasn’t like he would conjure her up just by speaking her name. Or worse, conjure up the intermittent erection that had plagued him since leaving her yesterday morning. “She got blind drunk, danced in the streets, and passed out on the way home.”

“Vicki?” Chance asked in disbelief. And Ty could understand his surprise. Vicki was sweet, and generally liked to have a good time, but she had never before done anything remotely similar to Saturday night. “No shit? Good for her. But that must have been a headache.”

“I handled it.”

“Of course, you did,” Chance said with an out of breath chuckle. “Oh, yeah, I got that classic Alien box set I’ve been talking about. Figured I’d bring beers tonight, and we could watch at yours?”

“Depends on Vicki.” Ty shrugged, not particularly interested. But it wasn’t like he had anything better to do.

Still, their schedules revolved around Vicki, and if she went out tonight, Chance would be working.

“Yeah, I mean, of course, but are you up for it? If I’m not on duty?”

“Fine.” They took the corner, picked up speed, and Ty was finally able to enjoy the rest of his run, in peace.

“Morning, ma’am.”

As usual, Tyler was waiting in the lobby outside the penthouse at seven-thirty sharp Monday morning. He was wearing a navy-blue suit, a pale blue open-necked shirt, and shiny black combat boots. Vicki always found the boots a little jarring.

As usual, she felt positively underdressed next to him. She wore a simple summer dress and sandals and had her favorite bright red and green bilum bag flung over her shoulder. Her extra-large travel mug of coffee was clutched in her right hand.