Chapter 15 #2
Tyler’s eyes are so sincere I almost blurt out exactly what I’m thinking.
That it was a good interview. Great, even.
Luke knew every detail of what I’ve accomplished in my four years as executive director of InspireSTEM.
All the kids we’ve helped and the school STEM programs we’ve funded.
The maker spaces we’ve built. He was impressed and complimentary.
He asked good questions. He talked to me like an equal, and that was practically a revelation because as a woman in STEM, it’s freakishly rare for a man in the field to talk to me in any way that isn’t mansplainy and grossly condescending.
He told me the interview process will be conducted in a few separate rounds over the next month or so with different people in various parts of the company, so football guy nailed that, and exactly what I think about it, which is that a month or so is a very, very long time and my patience is much, much shorter.
But I’m giving them a pass because he told me they’re determined to get this right.
To pick the perfect person for the job. And in not as many words, he told me he thinks that perfect person might be me.
It should be everything I’ve ever wanted.
I should be over the moon, yelling it from the rooftops.
Or at least screaming it in the family group chat.
And I would be, except for one tiny detail.
When Luke was talking about the interview process, he mentioned the final interview round would be a full day at the MasterLab headquarters.
In San Francisco.
Because MasterLab is in California.
The realization smacked me in the face the second he said the words.
Somewhere in the excitement and disbelief over even being considered for such an incredible opportunity, I managed to overlook the fact that the job I’m so excited about is located more than twenty-five hundred miles from where I’m currently sitting.
From my parents and my friends.
From Tyler.
The distance is too enormous to comprehend right now, so I shove it to the back of my brain to deal with later, the way I’ve been attempting to all day.
Trying to keep my thoughts from displaying themselves all over my face, I look at Tyler.
“I’m fine, seriously. I’m just preoccupied with work stuff. ”
It’s not entirely the truth but it’s not a lie either, and given the state of my head right now, that feels like a win.
He squeezes my finger with his, and his other hand comes to my cheek, his thumb gently stroking my cheekbone in a way that tangles me up inside in the good kind of way. The best kind of way. I kind of never want him to move his hand, ever. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
Not this, I think immediately.
I can’t tell him this.
Tyler will be happy for me. He’ll be so, so happy for me, and he’ll be my biggest cheerleader.
He’ll help me prep for the interviews and he’ll talk about all the amazing things to do and see in San Francisco.
He’ll be so enthusiastic about my potential move to California that if I get offered the job, it’ll seem like the only bad decision would be not to take it.
Tyler is an athlete. A consummate leader.
Most likely a future NFL captain. Tyler does what’s best for the team.
And since, on paper, what’s best for me would be to take the job if I’m offered it, that’s what he’ll push for. And it will break my heart, because I know myself well enough to realize that all I’m going to want is for him to ask me to stay.
So no, until I get my own head around it, I can’t tell anyone. Especially not Tyler.
Tyler, whose hand is still on my cheek and who is giving me a look I’ve never, ever seen before. At least, not on his face, directed at me. He’s looking at me like I’m the center of his goddamn universe, and the only reason I recognize that look is because he has always been the center of mine.
Giving in to exactly what I need in this moment, I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his waist and resting my head on his chest. His arms circle me immediately, one around my waist holding me lightly to his body and the other stroking my hair, and I think I would be happy if I could stay here, just like this, for the entire rest of forever.
“I’m fine, I swear,” I mumble against his chest, and fuck. He smells so good I have to restrain myself from huffing him like an addict in search of a fix. “It’s been kind of a weird day. I just need to shake it off.”
It’s for sure my imagination when I feel Tyler press a soft kiss to the top of my head. It’s not the first time he’s done that, but this time he lingers there, lips on my hair, and that’s definitely not something he would do. Right?
“You’ve come to exactly the right place.” Stepping back, Tyler grins at me.
I cross my arms, trying to shove a lid onto my roiling feelings. “The right place for what?”
He grins wider. “To shake off your day. I made us plans.”
“What kind of plans?”
He tosses an arm over my shoulders, and this time he definitely leans in and kisses my head, causing my body to tingle everywhere. From a head kiss. I really need to get a grip.
“The awesome kind.” Walking us forward, he opens the passenger door to his car and gestures inside. “So sit that gorgeous ass down and leave everything to me. You’re gonna love it.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Gorgeous ass?”
He shrugs, pushing me gently towards the car where, left with no reason not to, I slide into the passenger seat. “You’ve sure got one.” He winks at me again, and I think my body actually levitates. “Saw you naked, remember?”
I groan, tossing my head back against the seat and acting affronted when what I actually am is thrilled by the gorgeous ass comment. “Forget you saw that. Forget everything.”
With my eyes closed, I feel, rather than see, Tyler get closer.
“I wouldn’t even if I could,” he murmurs, hot breath fanning over my ear, and he might as well have pressed his tongue directly to my clit with the way my body behaves.
“I’ll remember the first time I saw you naked as long as I live.
There’s a cold Dr Pepper in the cupholder for you.
” He presses a kiss to my cheek and reaches up to grab the seatbelt, looping it over me and clicking it into place, and by the time he closes the door and strolls around to the driver’s side, I am a puddle.
Tyler slides into his seat and starts the car, looking over at me with the cutest fucking grin I’ve ever seen as he clicks his own seatbelt into place. And I have no idea what’s happening right now, but I like it, and I can’t wait for whatever this night has in store.