Chapter 8
Ajax
Isat there on my back porch, having my arm wrapped around Spy, and we were currently watching the sunrise, and it was the best time. It was calm and relaxing, letting me focus on just being in the moment.
It had been a great week and a half since we went for the drive. I got more of my book written with another idea behind it. And Spy had been by my side the whole time, making me the happiest man alive.
We didn’t have a status symbol, but I didn’t feel like we needed one. It was just us and I think we were both fine with that.
We had just assumed that we were an item and took it from there.
I glanced down at her as she snuggled closer, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. She sighed as the sun rose and I smiled.
“You looked beyond content right now,” I told her, kissing the top of her head.
She smiled at me and nodded.
“I am. I don’t think I’ve seen a more beautiful sunrise, actually. And I’ve seen a lot. But this just seems special.”
“Is it because I’m with you?”
She gave me a sneaky grin, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I mean, that doesn’t hurt in the least. But I’m not sure if that’s all of it.” Her eyes followed the lightness of the sun easing up. “It just feels nice and I really like it. Really like something I hadn’t known before.”
“You seem kind of stuck with words there too.”
“I am. I can’t express what I’m feeling, but I just know I’m happy.”
“That’s all I want.”
I held her a little tighter, glancing down at her phone as it buzzed. She groaned as she threw the covers off and I laughed. With a grunt, she reached for her phone, opening the icon.
I didn’t want to be the type to read over her shoulder and invade her privacy, but I couldn’t help but see the request pop up from The Network. Of course, it was for another event, and another man, that was requesting her company.
I bit my lip as I watched her read it, then read it again, before accepting.
And a wave of jealousy came over me so strongly.
I knew I didn’t have the right to say anything, but I wasn’t going to say that it didn’t bother me.
“What?” she asked, setting her phone down and tilting her head to look at me.
“What do you mean, what?”
“What bothered you?”
“Nothing is bothering me, Spy. Why would you say that?”
“Because I’m leaning against you and I can feel how tense you are. Because I’m almost positive, I heard you clench your jaw so impossibly tight that I think your back teeth broke. So, I’m asking again. What? What happened? What made you tense like that?”
“Really, nothing. It’s nothing.”
She sat up, putting the blanket on her lap and turned to face me, a brow raised.
“I’m calling bullshit, Ajax. I don’t want to deal with lying right now, so let’s make a rule that we’ll be honest with each other. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. Because it is evident something is.
“And I don’t like to be the type to guess, but I will. If I do, I also believe neither one of us will like what happens after that.”
“Fine, you accepted that request.”
“You’re right, I did. You saw I did, obviously.”
“It’s a request.”
“It was, yes. You’re very smart, Ajax. It was a simple day lunch request. What’s your problem with it?”
“It’s a request for you to go on a date with another man.”
“First of all, it’s my job and I’m not quitting my job. Second, it’s not a date, because it’s my job. I’m not the same person when I do these things as I am with you.”
She paused, crossing her arms over her chest as she cocked a brow.
“Are you saying you’re pissed because I said yes?”
“Yes,” I said, getting up off the swing and running my hand through my dark hair. I could easily see this derailing in the worst way, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was upset that she said yes and honestly, I didn’t have the right. I knew it.
But do you ever have those moments where you know something and still do it?
That was this moment.
My mouth was still going when it should have stopped.
“Look, Ajax,” she said, standing up as well. “It’s really sweet that you think you have any control over this right now or that you think your say matters, but it’s complete and utter bullshit. You don’t, by the way, so it’s best just so suck it up and get that in your head.”
I stared at her, lifting a brow.
“You’re going on it anyway?”
“Uh, yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m asking you not to.”
“No, Ajax, you’re not asking, you’re telling me and I don’t do well with that.” She crossed her arms, her face telling me I should really just sit back down and try to salvage this morning, but it wasn’t happening.
“Spy,” I started but she held her hand up.
“You need to save it. What you need to understand is this, I am my own woman and I’m not giving my job up for just anyone. Especially for a man that doesn’t see me as anything more than a friend at the moment.”
“Hey now, that’s not fair. Just because we don’t have a label doesn’t mean that’s all I see you as.”
“You’re right, because I won’t give us a label either. But I’m simply stating that you won’t be able to turn me away from my job. I won’t ask you to give up yours.”
“That’s not even the same. I don’t go out with other ladies.”
“It doesn’t matter. If you can’t see this as a job, then you’re stupider than I thought.”
She grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself.
“And what’s worse, AJ, is that I didn’t think you were. But this, right here, is proving how dumb you are. Especially after I told you what happened with my ex.
“I think we need to take a break,” she said, and my eyes opened wide. That was the last thing I expected.
But when I took a step to her, trying to stop her, she took one back, her hand held up.
“No, I know we need to, actually. And when you decide to pull your head out of your ass, you can contact me.”