I Can Explain (Awkward Love 2)

Am I the new Jade. Is that what this is?

I sit back down at my desk, not sure what to do. Maybe I’m imagining it, but what if I’m not? I never considered that we were only friends because we worked together. It never entered my mind that our relationship would change if we no longer had that connection in common. I hate the thought of losing my best friend.

I force myself to focus on my work and forget about Peyton. It’s hard to concentrate at first, but by the time lunch rolls around, I'm in my groove. I’m halfway through my current task and feeling much more optimistic, so I push that aside and reach for the stack of proposals he wants me to go through. He’s not expecting this until next week, but I’m determined to get it done early. Yes, I’m trying to impress him, but it has nothing to do with wanting him to like me. I just want him to appreciate what I can do.

Chase walks out of his office and over to me, resting his hands on the edge of my desk, so he’s facing me. I tense, because no matter what I do, I can’t seem to shake the attraction I have for him.

“I just thought I’d check in on how you’re doing?” he says.

He’s almost close enough for me to kiss. I study his lips for a moment, wondering how they’d feel, pressed up against mine. Would he be rough? Or gentle?

“Alana?”

I blush as he jolts me out of my daydream and stare at him. I scold myself for even letting my mind wander there, while he raises his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

Shit.

“Sorry,” I say, my tone way too upbeat. “I guess I was so into my work that I didn’t even hear you coming.”

“Funny,” he grins. “Most women complain I’m too loud.” I flush at his joke, cursing myself for my choice of words. “And I’m glad to hear things are going well.” He glances at his watch. “Although, you do realize that you’re five minutes into your lunch break already?”

I nod and hold up a soggy cheese and tomato sandwich that looks anything but appetizing.

“I brought a lunch from home,” I explain, embarrassed. “Who knew that tomato makes bread go soggy? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I was going to get a head start on that dictation you wanted typed up, anyway.”

He chuckles and reaches into his back pocket to pull out his wallet. He flicks it open and hands me his credit card.

“Go over to Watson's and get me a sandwich. They know me, and they know what I like. Order one for yourself, too,” he says. I shrug and stand up, my stomach demanding that I accept his kind offer. “And please don’t work through lunch again, Alana. I don't want you to sacrifice your own time for me,” he says with a frown.

I stare at him with raised eyebrows.

“Then why did you have me drop a file off to you at ten o'clock at night?” I ask sweetly. I smirk at him and walk out the door before he can answer.I use the short walk over there to catch up on my personal emails—not that I have many to go through. The one that stands out is from my father. It instantly makes me frown, because he’s so technologically challenged. I click on it, expecting it to be spam, but I’m impressed when I realize that it is from him.

Hey Lanni I hope you're okay I was worried when you didn't turn up I tried calling but I couldn't get through to you how about dinner next week maybe Friday? Dad

Shit.

I’d totally forgotten about dinner. I glance at the email again and burst out laughing. Not only does my father apparently not understand the importance of grammar, but he sent the email to every single person in his contact list.

I’m still chuckling as I tap out a reply.

Hey Dad,

Friday sounds good, but you’d better book a big table, considering you invited fifty-seven people. Sorry about missing dinner; I completely forgot about it. See you soon.

Love Lanni.

I shove my phone back in my pocket just as I reach the café. I walk inside, pleased to see that it’s quieter than I was expecting it to be. I wander up to the counter and order without having to wait.

As I wait for my order, I stifle a yawn. I'm so tired. The late nights and early mornings are really starting to mess with my head, but I'm determined to do whatever I have to, in order to impress Chase, because I’m getting this internship, one way or another. I hoped I’d be getting more than just a promotion,

God, I confuse myself sometimes. One minute, I’m upset because I think he’s only promoting me for sex, and the next, I’m upset because nothing has happened. I had this idea in my head about us working closely together, side by side, with the sexual tension rising by the second. He’d look at me and my heart would race, and then he’d lean in and kiss me.