Chapter Five #2
As she packs away her things, she knocks on the wooden frame of my door.
“I’m heading out, Dr. Adams. Have a good weekend.” Her face is pinched, like it’s troubling her to be so polite even though she’s usually nothing but.
“Plans for the weekend?” I ask because I’m a masochist. Maybe she’s got another date lined up.
She shrugs. “I have plans with a few friends—the ones I met on Monday, actually.”
I pause because I think she’s lying, but Mia’s never lied to me before, so it’s hard to tell.
Her fingertips trail up her neck until she twirls a loose strand of her hair around her finger, smiling.
“Yeah, they seemed like such nice guys, so we’re gonna chill at theirs and order pizza. You know, just casual.”
“Casual,” I grumble. “Where exactly do they live?”
“You’re not invited, Dr. Adams, so I don’t think you need to know that piece of information. No doubt you’ll be busy with your girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?” My brows pinch together. Ah, she means Lottie.
“You know you have a real habit of just repeating words back to people. It’s incredibly annoying.”
I smirk. At least she’s finally talking to me, even if she’s started lobbing insults again. “Annoying?”
She rolls her eyes, sliding her bag up onto her shoulder and walking out without another word.
◆◆◆
This may have been a mistake. I knew I was following Helen and her neighbor to their date at a line dancing evening, I just hadn’t anticipated that everyone would be dressed up like they’re headed back to their farms later.
Denim on denim, plaid shirts, cowboy boots and Carhartt jackets are everywhere.
And I came from work. I look like a time traveler that’s been dropped into an alternative universe fifty years ago. I’m wearing work shoes for fucks sake.
Following patients is an art-form that I am quite clearly ill-prepared for, and frankly, I blame Mia.
If I hadn’t been so occupied by her all week, with her clipped responses and rolling eyes, I’d have maybe planned tonight a little better, thought it through a bit more.
But as it happens, the image of Vincent’s terrorized face hasn’t left my retinas, and the silent scream attempting to release itself from his throat is haunting me.
Especially when Mia looked so fucking happy about it.
She’s terrifying to the point of distraction.
Despite the crowd of cowboy hats, I manage to find solace in a dark corner behind a large wooden pillar on the edge of the dancefloor.
The MC is locked in, preparing the crowd for the next song by explaining the basic steps they need to master.
There’s around twenty people on the dancefloor of various abilities.
The worst being Helen and her neighbor. They’re stepping around each other, their mouths stretched from laughing.
The neighbor slaps his boot behind him and I watch as Helen cackles, her head thrown back as he waggles his eyebrows at her.
The thick ball of tension in my chest eases a little.
It’s still early, things could change, but for now she looks happy.
Her ex-husband was such a piece of shit, I’m pleasantly surprised she’s come tonight.
Even though her self confidence has soared in the last eighteen months, Helen is still reluctant to trust her gut feeling.
And that’s where I come in. During our sessions I can help her build her trust in herself.
And outside of sessions, I can show up, keep an eye on the situation and intervene if I need to.
She swings around as the neighbor pulls her into his chest, his hand appropriately in the middle of her back. I take the opportunity to check my phone.
It’s seven thirty and Mia will be out with her new friends by now, doing god knows what.
I type out a message to her but decide it’s best to leave her to it.
She’s not my problem and never could be.
She’s my employee dammit. Deleting the message and shoving the phone back in my pocket, my foot starts to tap out of time with the beat.
A bead of sweat runs down my back as the image of her sat amongst three brawling guys torments me.
Fuck it.
I pull out my phone, find her contact and send a message without hesitating.
Alfie: Let me know if you need a ride back from the Jonas Brothers house. I’m free later.
I don’t know if that was the right thing to do.
We’ve barely spent time together outside of work and yet, the thought of her with another man, let alone three of them, has me feeling like I could kick through a door, throw her over my shoulder and growl at anyone who tried to stop me.
I pull up the group chat of the only people in my life who will tell me the truth.
Unfortunately they’re as stupid as I am when it comes to dating or romance, not that this is what this is…
Alfie: Is it appropriate to offer a colleague a lift home from a social event?
They know I only work with Mia but I’m curious to see whether they will remember.
Jonesy: Stop being a prick and just ask her if she needs a ride. Jesus, you know how to talk to women.
That answers that question.
Alfie: I’ve already explained why it’s not that simple. Remember when you talked about how hot my office manager was when you visited the office?
Caleb: Put us all out of our misery Adams and just call the girl. You’re an awful texter.
Alfie: She’s out with three guys. She’s not going to pick up her phone.
Katie: If what Lottie said was true, I think she’ll definitely pick up.
Excellent. Lottie has told everyone already.
Lottie: Oh, she likes him. I could tell. Not as much as he likes her, obviously. But we can work on that.
Alfie: I don’t like her. I just want her to be safe and not in danger. Finding a new office manager would be a nightmare.
Jonesy: You’re an idiot.
Alfie: I’m gonna try and call her.
I hit Mia’s contact and put the phone to my ear. The music is loud as hell in here so no doubt I won’t be able to hear a goddamn word she says. Maybe I’ll have time to swing by the bar where I saw her with the three beefcakes and find out if the barstaff know them and where they live.
It quickly goes to voicemail and a text comes through.
Mia: I’m a little tied up right now.
Tied up? Tied fucking up? No fucking way is she getting tied up by three lumberjacks who have moved to the fucking city. Not a hope in hell am I going to let that happen.
“Fuck my life,” I grumble, pinching the bridge of my nose, clicking back on the Dinner Club group chat.
Alfie: She screened my call and then texted saying “I’m a little tied up right now”
Caleb: Ouch.
Jonesy: Oh shit…
Katie: She’s annoyed with you. Be nice and see if she comes around.
Lottie: Agree with Katie, you boys are too gullible.
I steel myself, taking a deep breath. I’ve all but forgotten about Helen at this point but one glance at the dancefloor lets me know she’s doing okay with the neighbor.
Alfie: I just wanted to check if you needed a ride home tonight. I’m free so just call me. Anytime. I mean it, Mia.
Mia: No more Miss Sinclair?
Alfie: I think we can be on a first name basis outside of the office.
Mia: Even when you’re following patients?
I look over my shoulder and clench my butt cheeks almost instinctively. Can’t be too careful now that I know what a penchant she has for giving wedgies.
Mia: On your lunch break I mean.
Alfie: Right. Lunch breaks and after hours. Do we have a deal?
Mia: What else do I get?
Is she flirting? My heart rate picks up a notch and I swallow down the instinct to shut it down immediately.
She’s my employee but I’m not blind. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.
Disarmingly charming, she draws you in with a flick of her raven hair.
Even if it’s unethical, I’ve done worse than flirting with my employee just this last week alone, so I’m not going to stop now.
Just a quick pitstop to the group chat to see what they think.
Alfie: I think she might be flirting with me.
Katie: I KNEW IT
Lottie: YES. ALFIE FINALLY HAS AN INTEREST IN A GIRL. FLY MY SWEET BABY BIRD. SPREAD YOUR WINGS.
Jonesy: And her legs.
Katie: Gross Jonesy.
Jonesy: Don’t be jealous princess. You know I’d do the same for you. You just have to ask nicely. Preferably on your knees ;)
Katie: I would rather eat a kangaroo’s testicle than go anywhere near your penis.
Caleb: Enough, children. We’ll talk about this enemies to lovers situation after we move past the forbidden workplace romance we’re currently dealing with.
Katie: *middle finger emoji*
Jonesy: *middle finger emoji*
Wow. These two may be soulmates.
Caleb: To answer your question. Flirt back. Seems obvious.
Before I can think of a way to suggestively say that I want her tied up in my bedroom instead of wherever the hell she is now, she sends another message.
Mia: We could do with some better snacks in the kitchen.
I run my hand over my mouth and feel my shoulders sag. Am I disappointed that my employee isn’t flirting? I should be relieved. This is a wake up call. I need to get things back on track and stop dicking around with Mia.
Alfie: I’ll look into it.
Alfie: Remember to call me if you need a ride.