“Could you get me a glass of water and some aspirin?” I asked. I hated asking him for things, but I was getting better at it.
“Sure, Sunshine. I’ll get you whatever you want. Wine, pizza, orgasms, whatever.” I laughed and then cringed because it made my head hurt.
“I’m definitely okay with the wine and the pizza, but let’s hold off on the orgasms for maybe a little while.” Lucah got the water and the aspirin and I took the pills.
“You know, orgasms are a natural headache cure,” he said, gathering up my used tissues to throw in the trash. He really did love me. You had to love someone to pick up their gross, snotty tissues.
“You really are desperate for sex,” I said.
“Yeah, well. Have you seen you? I’d have to be insane not to want to be inside you all day and every day.” He always said the sweetest things.
“You’re so romantic,” I said, stroking his cheek. Just a hint of stubble tickled my palm and I thought about how that would feel between my legs. Maybe the pizza could wait.
Eighteen
The next day I drafted an email to the other Vice Presidents. In the most diplomatic way I could, I said that I needed more help. I outlined the items on my list that I didn’t think I could do and also remain sane. I had been trying to do too much and even though I’d delegated a little, I hadn’t been giving up enough.
I hit send on the email and about five seconds later Lilia came in, as if she knew that I would want to talk.
“Hey, how are you? You looked a little…” She trailed off. I knew what she meant. I wasn’t a pretty crier and the residue of it lasted for a while. I’d done whatever I could to de-puff my eyes this morning, but I guess my efforts hadn’t been enough.
“Like shit?” I supplied. I wasn’t one to curse in front of my employees, but we were so comfortable with each other that it came out every now and then. I liked to blame Lucah and his sailor’s mouth, but I’d been cursing a blue streak long before I’d met him.
“I was going to use something more diplomatic, seeing as how you sign my paycheck but…” She shrugged.
“It’s fine. I realized last night that I’ve taken on a little too much and had some emotions about it and cried a bit.” She sat down in the chair across from my desk.
“I totally get that. I’m not a pretty crier either.” I doubted that, but oh well. It didn’t matter.
“Lucah sat me down and we had a chat about the fact that I’m trying to be like an octopus, but I only have two arms and it’s not working out that well.” Lilia muffled a laugh with her hand.
“I’m sorry, that’s just a hilarious mental picture.” I chuckled a little too. It was. I waved my arms like I thought an octopus might and that made her laugh even harder. And that made me laugh harder and before I knew it we were both in full-blown laughing fits.
It took what seemed like forever for us to stop. I was really losing it lately. This time Lilia was the one to hand me a tissue to wipe my eyes.
“I don’t even know what’s happening to me anymore,” I said, dabbing my eyes so I didn’t smudge my eye makeup. Lilia did the same and then we both checked ourselves in the mirror I kept in my desk.
“You’re getting married and your job is crazy. It’s totally understandable that you’d get a little loopy every now and then. It happens to the best of us.” I hated that she was younger than me and so wise.
“You really have your shit together, you know that?” I said and that made her shake her head at me.
“Oh, if only you knew. I definitely don’t have everything together. Not even a little bit.” I found that hard to believe, but as much as Lilia and I talked, I knew very little about her life outside of work. That was partially my fault since I was so eager to talk about my own issues with her and didn’t press when she put her walls up.
“Want to go to lunch?” I asked. I would love to spend an hour not dealing with my own issues.
“Sure,” she said. “I’ll add it in your schedule.” Rising to her feet, she walked out of my office, but gave me a wink before she shut the door.
“You’ve got this.”
~*~*~
“So, I know you grew up around here, but where?” I asked after we’d gotten our food and had settled in. I didn’t want to fire off a bunch of probing personal questions right off the bat. She still paused with the fork halfway to her mouth.
“Uhhhh,” she said, setting the fork down, even though it was full of chicken.
“Sorry. I was just thinking that when we go out, we always talk about me and my issues and my drama and my fiancé and we never talk about you. I know it’s partially because you’re shy and partially because I’m a self-centered bitch. So. Today I’ve decided that I don’t want to talk about me, I want to hear about you.” She turned several different colors in succession and I was starting to regret what had seemed like a good idea an hour ago.
Lilia put her hands on either side of her plate and looked down at them.