Perfect Chaos
“You’re welcome.” I cough my throat clear. “You must be hungry after all that hard work,” I tease, and she jabs me in the stomach. I’m eternally grateful, because that unreasonable emotion just turned into a laugh.
“You’re mocking me.” She tosses me a playful, dirty look and makes her way to the fridge, opening the door. “I’m not hungry, but I’m so thirsty.”
Resting my shoulder on the doorframe, I study her as she helps herself in my kitchen, unable to fight the notion that she looks good in here. Really good.
Taking a bottle of water from the shelf, Lainey shuts the fridge and unscrews the cap, chugging half the bottle down as she turns back to me. Her ravenous glugs stop when she catches sight of me by the door, watching her. Lowering the bottle from her lips, I definitely detect a faint blush creep up on her cheeks. “Sorry. Can I have some water?”
I smile so wide it hurts. “Help yourself.”
“I kind of already did.” She holds up the bottle awkwardly. I can tell what she’s thinking. She’s thinking the exact same thing that I’m thinking. She thinking about how comfortable we are together. How good we are. How natural. But she won’t say it, and neither will I. I’ll just leave the idea to manifest until she openly admits it, because I know she knows I’m thinking that, too.
We are perfect together.THE NEXT DAY AT WORK, I cannot stop smiling. Gina has assumed I must have gotten my wicked way with my hairdresser last night, and I was happy to go along with that. What I’m not so happy about is the fact that I need to find a new stylist, and I can’t even ask my assistant to do it for me. I’ve been searching Google for the past hour and my head hurts. I can’t ask Mum, because what would I say? My other hair stylist wanted to fuck me and I turned her away? She got a little sharp for my tastes? Yes, pun intended. And I can’t call Moya either, because I’m not sure what the hell is happening with her and Sal at the moment, and, honestly, I’m not sure I want to get involved in a domestic. It’s not like I’m a sea of knowledge when it comes to working on a marriage.
The familiar sound of my email chime has me flying forward in my chair, my heart beating fast. It virtually leaps from my chest when I see her name. It’s taken everything and more not to be the one to initiate communication today after I dropped her off at her apartment on my way to the office at eight, giving her an hour to get ready and get to work. I look down at my watch. Only ten o’clock. It’s been the longest two hours of my life.* * *Re: I’m hyperI can’t believe I’ve been swimming!Lainey Summer
PA to Sal Walker
Christianson Walker Ltd.* * *I grin at my computer, my fingers going straight to the keys.* * *Re: I like hyper LaineyCongrats!Tyler Christianson
Chief Executive Officer
Christianson Walker Ltd.* * *I click send before I’m tempted to tag on the line that’s currently swimming around in my head. Shit, I haven’t seen her for two hours, but I miss her. Something rotten. Last night, after I’d rewarded her for her bravery in the form of some serious loving, I cuddled up to her and slept like a baby. It was fucking amazing. And this morning, I woke to her stroking my chest softly. We had coffee together, talked about anything and nothing, and showered before I dropped her home. I’m fucking smitten. But, that doesn’t mean I should tell her I miss her. It’s too much. Way too much, way too soon.* * *Re: :-)Thank you.
I miss you.Lainey Summer
PA to Sal Walker
Christianson Walker Ltd.* * *“Yes.” I jump up from my chair like a total loser and quickly check the vicinity for other people. Of course, I’m alone. Until Gina steams in.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.” I sit back down, forcing my grin back into hiding until she’s left and I’m safe again. She misses me. She fucking misses me. I’m so fucking happy about that.* * *Re: :)Tell me you’re still free tonightTyler Christianson
Chief Executive Officer
Christianson Walker Ltd.* * *Re: :)I’m still free tonightLainey Summer
PA to Sal Walker
Christianson Walker Ltd.* * *My teeth clench hard, stopping the elated yell from escaping.* * *Re: :)Pick you at up from your place at 7.Tyler Christianson
Chief Executive Officer
Christianson Walker Ltd.* * *She doesn’t reply, so I take it as a resounding yes. And anyway, it’s not like I posed it as a question.HOW FUCKING LONG DOES THE day want to drag? Every second feels like a minute and every minute feels like an hour. By the time it’s six forty-five, I’m ready to shoot my way out of the building. I stare at the clock as I hear voices down the line, but the information isn’t sinking in. This conference call with finance was supposed to wrap up half an hour ago, and I’m seriously contemplating hanging up if someone doesn’t finish it soon.