5. Lilly
Lilly
FEB. 11TH - TUESDAY
D etermined not to be a pain in everyone’s ass today, despite logging off for an extra-long lunch two days in a row, I march my way to Aaron's office. Dean and Caleb kissed me goodbye and told me how sweet I was for bringing my man lunch two days in a row.
I wasn't to worry about work for a bit they said, which in turn made me feel guilty. Not only because it meant they knew I was feeling off, but because it means Caleb would have to pick up my slack today.
We're both equally talented with our marketing skills, but he mainly focuses on the client side of things while I get to stay behind my laptop and create everything Dean uses to promote our clients on social media. Like Aaron, we're in the book business. Instead of editing people's work, we help promote their work and get their names out there.
It's fun, and it's what brought me to them all those years ago. I love our roles and our business has been booming for a while. I think we might need to hire a few more people.
My strut through Aaron's building turns timid far too soon, so by the time I'm on his floor and turning down his hallway, I'm practically tiptoeing.
God, I'm being stupid. Nothing happened. I hate that I'm here to prove it to myself instead of this solely being about spending time with my partner. But, damn it, I want to make it right. I have to be okay with his boss; this is his dream which means it's also mine.
The emotions of one affect the rest. That's family. Aaron's happy, and so am I.
The pep in my step as I enter his office might be somewhat forced, but fake it until you make it, right? My anxiety comes and goes. This is just a tiny blip; then I'll feel better.
I expect to see Aaron behind his desk leafing through a manuscript, but seeing the room empty surprises me a little. After I set lunch on the little coffee table by the window, I look around. A small notebook and a pen catch my eye. I can write him a cute note to find later.
I'm grinning as I squiggle a small heart beside my name, Your Lil Lilly , and tuck it beneath the corner of his keyboard. As I stand upright, a low hum startles me into bumping my hip against the desk.
"We just keep running into each other." Brett . His throaty chuckle sends shivers down my spine, and I can't help but whip around like I'm expecting an attack.
When I do, though, I can't convince myself that he wasn't just staring at my ass. His eyes were absolutely...
Brett's eyes snap to mine with concern flashing in them. Or maybe it was something el— "Your hip okay, Lilly?"
I frown. Oh. "Um, I'm fine." He wasn't checking me out then. What is wrong with me? "How are you, Brett?"
I swear his shiny brown dress shoes are winking at me in the bright sunlight as he slowly closes the space between us. "Hmm.” He grins and drops a hand down on Aaron's desk a foot from me. "I would be so much better if I had a woman like you in my life. Beautiful, thoughtful." He eyes the bag of lunch I brought.
A nervous laugh slips out as I inch away, and try not to rush toward the door. "I was just dropping lunch off for?—"
Before I can finish my excuse and bolt the fuck out, Aaron's blocking the doorway. The smile that lights up his face makes my heart clench. With happiness or dread, I don't quite know. "Lilly, I didn't know you were coming, my love! I would have been here waiting for you."
He swoops down and kisses me gently with his hand on the hip I hurt because of his boss. "Just wanted to surprise you," I whisper, my cheeks heating but not from embarrassment, but because I can feel his eyes on us.
Brett's boisterous laugh makes me jump. "I was telling her how lucky you are to have someone feeding you all the time." Aaron just laughs right back, seemingly pleased with the impression I'm making.
"Lilly's mom has the best recipes she gifted us a few years ago. I've never eaten so well in my life," Aaron brags. Meanwhile, my skin itches with sweat beneath my long sleeve and puffy black jacket.
Aaron moves me toward the little sitting area by the window that looks out over the city. When his back is to his boss, Brett's eyes run over me. "Lucky indeed." His voice is casual; his leer is anything but.
What the fuck is going on?
"Speaking of food," Brett continues with more excitement as he makes his way toward the door. "I'd like to take you and your family out for a congratulatory dinner tomorrow night. You can't say no. I'm the boss, remember?" He tosses a wink over his shoulder.
"Sounds great! Thank you, sir," Aaron practically gushes as Brett leaves.
Fucking great.