Chapter 2
TWO
Owen
What the hell is going on in there?
I lean back in my chair, squinting through the frosted glass of Stacy's office—Meadow’s nightmare of a manager.
Even though I can’t make out much more than blurred shapes, Stacy’s arms are slicing through the air like a pissed-off orchestra conductor.
And Meadow’s unmoving silhouette tells me everything I need to know.
She’s getting ripped apart by her boss right now, probably for something as little as a misplaced comma.
Our office is an open-concept floor plan, with sales on one side and creative on the other. From my desk, I can see right into that little glass box of hell where Meadow’s currently trapped.
Stacy is, hands down, the biggest asshole in the company. I’ve lost count of how many employees have quit because of her. I can’t believe she’s still in a leadership role.
With how many people we’ve lost, it’s honestly a miracle Stacy hasn’t been fired yet. She’s lucky that Meadow has put up with her shit for all these years.
You wouldn't think that Meadow is Stacy’s star employee by the way she treats her, but she is. If Stacy doesn't stop nitpicking every little thing, she’s going to lose Meadow. It’s just a matter of time.
Hell, I’m about to walk in there and tell Stacy exactly how fucked she’ll be when Meadow finally snaps.
And if Meadow quits because her boss is such a pain in the ass— if I don’t get to see her every day —I’ll go to HR and raise hell myself. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that Stacy never walks into this high-rise again.
I impatiently tap my fingers against my wooden desk as my blood boils. I feel this protectiveness over Meadow that I can’t explain. She doesn’t deserve this shit.
And it doesn’t help that I completely embarrassed her last week.
It’s been exactly one week since we had drinks at the bar, and I still can’t get the look on her face out of my head. Her devastated expression when I made her feel like a fucking “human distraction.” If she only knew how far from the truth that is.
It’s actually comical because she’s the opposite of that. If anything, she’s the one distraction that I gladly welcome. The one I can’t stop fucking staring at. If she only knew how often she distracts me— every damn day —simply by existing in the same space as me.
For example, she walked in this morning wearing a fitted pencil skirt that will forever be burned into my brain. God , that skirt, paired with a loose blouse that dips just enough to show the line of her cleavage.
It’s a fucking problem how good she looks today. My own personal torture.
Meadow has no idea how sexy she is.
She’s oblivious to how every straight man in this office damn near breaks their neck when she passes by. Meadow and her wild brunette hair, dark, seductive eyes, perfect little button nose, and plump lips that always looked freshly kissed. It’s enough to kill a man.
And don’t get me started on how incredibly smart she is. When I have the chance, I love to sit next to her and watch her think. Just to witness the quiet brilliance of her brain.
So yeah, if she’s a distraction, she’s the best one I’ve ever had.
I rub the back of my neck and shake my head. I could never tell her any of this. Not a chance in hell.
Not only is she one of my closest friends, but she’s also one of the few co-workers I enjoy seeing every day.
Everything could blow up in my face if I tried to blur either one of those lines.
And that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
I can’t imagine going a week without laying eyes on Meadow, even if we only ever stay friends.
Besides, she deserves a man much better than me. Someone more sophisticated. A brain surgeon or some shit. Not a washed-up, Division I quarterback who stumbled into sales.
Meadow’s so far out of my league it’s almost laughable.
Despite her reaction, I genuinely thought it would be fun to ask her to come to the wedding with me. A much-needed vacation where, if I were lucky, I’d have more time with her outside of the office.
But no. I had to fuck it all up. The second I opened my mouth, it sounded like I only wanted her there to shield people from asking about my ex. I’ll never forget how fucking broken she looked… How embarrassed she must have been. My gut churns at just the memory of it.
Christ. I’m such a dumbass.
A sudden movement snaps my attention back to the glass.
Stacy’s office door flies open, and Meadow storms out with steam practically spewing from her ears.
Her nostrils flare as her cheeks flush beet red, looking like a feral animal ready to charge.
Her steps are fast and furious, causing everyone who’s standing between the cubicles to clear out instantly.
Oh, shit.
I don’t ever think I’ve seen Meadow this pissed off. And damn if it isn’t sexy as hell.
I feel a drop of sweat roll down my temple when her fiery eyes lock onto mine.
Fuck. What did I do now?
She doesn’t slow down. She just stalks toward my desk until she’s standing right in front of me, her chest heaving up and down with angry breaths. She doesn't say hi or give me a second to ask her what the fuck is going on.
“I’m in,” she blurts out.
I arch a confused brow.
“You’re in?”
“Yes, Owen,” she says flatly, like I’m supposed to know what she’s talking about. “I need to get the hell out of here before I lose my mind or quit without another job lined up.”
My brows knit together as my brain tries to catch up.
“Meadow, I’m gonna need a little more context than that.”
Her eyes narrow to little slits as if I’m the dumbest man alive.
“I’m going on the fucking trip, Owen.”
Hold up… Did I hear her right?
I never thought she was actually considering going. When Meadow said she would think about it, I thought she was just saying that to let me down easy.
It feels like I’m frozen in place. Like I couldn't move a muscle if I tried.
My heart beats out of control in my chest as I try to process what she just said.
Before I can respond to the bomb she just dropped, Meadow spins on her heel and stomps off, leaving her cherry blossom scent lingering at my desk like a rule begging to be broken.
I lose track of how long I sit there, unblinking, with my mouth hanging open like a deer in headlights.
Finally, my chest shakes as a laugh slips from my throat, full of disbelief.
Well, fuck me.
She said yes.
Meadow Riley is coming with me to Costa Cay.