Chapter 14
Gavin
Sittingin front of Michelle’s desk beside Emily is uncomfortable.
I’ve been in relationships before, but never with someone that I worked with. However, there’s a first for everything.
I cannot touch her.
And that’s killing me.
I cannot touch her, especially in front of our boss.
While in a relationship, I’m not one to shy away from public displays of affection. In fact, I’m a touchy-feely person, and being in her presence with no small touches or gestures is killing me.
The chair that she’s sitting in is spaced two feet from mine. Our boss has her back towards us, while she’s on a call, and behind us are her team and mine, doing their best to not look obvious while they take turns walking by and not-so-nonchalantly looking in. And my hands are resting on the arms of the chair. And hers are clasped in her lap.
It’s killing me. But I accept the challenge. I can refrain. And in private, I wouldn’t dare.
Michelle spins around in her chair and places her cell phone face down in front of her.
“That was Mr. McConnell,” she states.
That’s the guy we presented to yesterday, well, him and his team. I already know where this conversation is going.
“He was impressed with what you brought to him. He is a big fan of yours, Gavin. Says that your ideas were inspiring.”
“Inspiring?”
“Tell me what your experience was?” Michelle asks me directly.
“Well, I am a firm believer in not taking all the credit for things that I didn’t complete on my own. I was present. We pulled Julian from my team and Janet from Emily’s being the main presenters to the client and his team.”
“I appreciate that.” She nods, “Continue.”
“We ran through our presentation and used a demo to reflect how the product would look and run. Using both interfaces, the client and the user. We ran through a launch timeline and used suggestions from our testing audiences for marketing.”
“Do you want to know what McConnell just told me?” she looks between the two of us. “McConnell said that he’s been presented with different pitches on this same project over the past year, and your pitch was the only one that went with the mission statement that they had. They have their lawyers sending over contracts as we speak. We’re a go and that’s a big thanks to the both of you.”
“No shit?” Emily asks for confirmation.
“No shit. You guys are a good team. I’m impressed with both of you. Thank you for doing all that you’ve done for this project. I understand working with someone that you don’t yet can be unnerving. Throwing you two together off the jumpstart benefited us.”
“We’re a good team,” I say, smiling while glancing at Emily, who returns my smile with warmth in her eyes.
“What’s next?” Emily asks.
“Your part is primarily done. But I want you to check and see if there are other areas in which we can help them. I want you to look for the next project. They must have weaknesses that need strengthening or rebranding. And for you, Gavin. Your team needs to get with sales and determine the next approach. You have your timeline, but I want you guys to go above and beyond. Don’t cut corners, but over deliver.”
“You got it,” I say.
“Good work. I’m happy with the results thus far, and think you guys working together will be beneficial.” She stands up and rounds the desk. She extends her hand and I take it with a firm shake.
“I’ll make sure we get working on the next steps. Thank you for the confidence.”
“Hey, you’re just doing your job. Don’t thank me.”
“Exactly.”
The meeting is over. Both Emily and I walk out of the office and exhale as soon as we are out on the floor. Without thinking, I reach for her. Before we connect, I pull my hand back and swear under my breath.
“You okay?” Emily turns to me, unknowing of the internal battle that I just struggled with.
“Yeah. I’m good. How about tonight we go out? Like actually go out, have some fun.”
“Like a date?” she whispers before she looks around to make sure that no one is around us to overhear.
“Yeah. Like a date. Let’s go out and do what normal people do.” I offer her a grin as we walk through the floor with my hands in my pockets.
As I steppedonto the track, the smell of rubber and cheap gasoline filled my senses, igniting a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. This wasn’t your average first date, but then again, Emily isn’t your average date. She has a competitive edge that matches my own, as seen during work, and she does not like any of the other girls that I’ve dated. They were girls, but she’s a woman.
I glance over at Emily as she slides into the driver’s seat of her go-kart, her eyes sparkling with excitement and determination. She shoots me a playful smirk, a silent challenge passing between us as we prepare to race.
With a quick nod to the track attendant, the engine roared to life, and we were off, hurling down the straightaway with reckless abandon. The wind whipped across my face as I navigated the twists and turns of the track, my heart pounding in my chest with every hairpin curve.
Emily was hot on my heels, her kart closing the gap between us. I could feel the heat of her competitive spirit driving her forward with an intensity that matched my own.
As we rounded the last corner and raced toward the finish line, I could hardly contain the grin spreading across my face. This was exhilarating, electrifying, everything I had hoped for the night and more. And was about to beat her across the finish line. My foot eased off the pedal and she had the lead.
As Emily and I stepped off the track, our laughter still ringing in the air, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. This date had been perfect, a thrilling adventure shared with someone who made my heart race in more ways than one.
As we turned to leave, a familiar voice called out my name, a voice that I hadn’t heard in months. I take a deep breath, put a smile on my face, and turn to see my ex-girlfriend, Nikki, striding toward us with a confident smile, her eyes lingering on me with a hint of mischief.
“Gavin, fancy seeing you here,” she purred, her voice dripping with fake sweetness as she sidled up to me, ignoring my hand in Emily’s.
Emily tenses beside me, her gaze flickering between Nikki and me with a mixture of confusion and unease. I could see the questions forming in her eyes, the doubts creeping into her mind as she watches the interaction unfold.
“Hi, Nik,” I said, my voice strained as I forced a polite smile. “What are you doing here?”
Nikki’s smile widened as she leaned in closer. “Oh, just out for a little fun with friends,” she replied, hitching her thumb over her shoulder at a small group of girls, some I recognized who wave. She finally acknowledges Emily as she glances pointedly at her. “And who’s this? Your mom?”
Emily was bristling beside me, her discomfort palpable as she shifted from foot to foot, her eyes darting between Nikki and me. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her that Nikki was no one to be bothered by. An ex, nothing more. But the truth was, Nikki had a way of getting under my skin, of stirring up old emotions that I had buried.
“This is Emily,” I said, forcing myself to meet Nikki’s gaze head-on. “Emily, this is Nikki, an old friend,” I emphasize.
There was tension between Nikki and me. After spending nearly two years together, I had come home from a weekend celebrating a buddy’s birthday to my girl in bed with some other guy. The same bed that we shared. I threw her out of the house and put all her shit on the curb. We had unresolved issues, but it was shit that I wasn’t interested in revisiting. To me, there was nothing to say to her.
“Nice to meet you, Emily,” Nikki said, her voice saccharine sweet as she extended her hand towards Emily. “I hope you’re treating Gavin well. He’s quite a catch, you know.”
I felt a surge of frustration rising within me as Nikki flirted shamelessly with me, her words dripping with insincerity. I wanted to tell her to back off, to leave us alone, and let us enjoy our evening in peace. But before I could speak, Emily stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination.
“We should get going,” she said, her voice firm as she took my arm and led me away from Nikki. “We have other plans.”
I shoot her a grateful smile as we walk away, her presence a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling around me. Her hand fits perfectly in my mind as we walk away.