Since you still thought our relationship was a game, let's play the last one together... A treasure hunt—romantic, right? Remember, that's how you asked me to marry you? Here's the game: I packed up all your belongings from MY apartment and now you have to find where all your crappy stuff is...Here are the clues! Have fun.
Clue 1: All your clothes are where you first told me you loved me.
Clue 2: All your personal papers and important files are where we first met.
Clue 3: All your pictures and stupid things you left around my house are where we had our first kiss.
Clue 4: Your laptop with everything on it, like naked pictures of you and Sophia, are at the house of the person who gave birth to you. She enjoyed the slide show as much as I did. I believe she understands my side of things a little more now.
What do you win for playing this game? All your stuff (I'm not sorry about your clothes—I had a little accident with scissors). And your freedom. Because I will never be okay with marrying someone who lies and cheats. I wanted a marriage, not a wedding, and you couldn't give me the marriage I deserved.
I hope you have a nice life.
It's just going to have to be without me.
Because I deserve better than this.
Wednesday.
I called into work sick. Ben and Jerry kept me company.
Thursday.
I still couldn't make it to work. There was an important John Hughes marathon on the television. Ben and Jerry left. Johnny Walker and Jack Daniels spent the night. I think Mandy came over too.
Friday.
Rain. I think.
My mother visited with a list of dating websites and chicken soup. She said it's good for the soul. But so was Jack Daniels. I introduced them. We ended up burning all of Kevin's pictures I had left in a pot on the stove. My curtains went up in flames and a fire extinguisher had to be used. That white foam was a pain in the ass to clean up.
Saturday and Sunday? Unmemorable—mostly because I truly have no recollection of either of those days.
Monday morning was work.
I sat at my desk—right hand clenched around a huge Caramel Frappuccino, second one of the day, and left hand rummaging through an enormous box of Godiva chocolate some anonymous person left on my desk. It was most likely Kevin. I didn't really care, you know, free chocolate and all.
I was so enrapt in my research (and sugary goodies) I barely heard the voices as they entered the office. I glanced up and saw a bright-eyed Mandy bouncing on the balls of her feet, standing next to a handsome...I scrambled up off the seat. "Mr. Holt."
"Miss Novak," he smiled, "you've missed work. Haven't answered any calls. How were your days off? Is everything okay?"
"Um. Yeah. I just had a rough day on Tuesday. I went um, to bed Tuesday night after getting rid of a rodent infestation I had in my apartment. When I woke up, it was this morning."
"Really?" he smiled, knowingly. God it feels like he’s the only person who gets my snarky jokes.
"Word to the wise, never drink NyQuil with our friend Jack. You might believe it's absolutely delicious at the time and admire the lovely shade of vomit it creates, but it packs a greater knockout than you could ever expect," I said.
James chuckled. In the cubicle next to me Frank, another fact checker, popped his head up. "You seriously drank NyQuil and Jack Daniels? Together?"
I winked at him. "You'd be surprised at how good it is."
"I'm surprised you're not dead," he said, laughing.
I glanced back up at James. He was smiling at me, his gaze lingering on my lips. "So what brings the managing editor all the way down into the basement this morning?" I asked, imagining him kneeling in front of my chair, my knees hooked over his shoulders and his lips against my flesh. A rush of blood heated my cheeks.
"I was hoping you could check on some information for me," he said, giving me one of his crooked smiles that made my heart practically explode.
"We usually use the office phone or email for that," Frank cut in.
"Shush, Frank," Mandy snapped, standing behind James and gesturing for Frank to either slit his own neck or to stop speaking. This was Mandy; it could have been either one.
"Well, I tried actually, but talking to the intern at the research desk is an exercise in patience," James said, still holding my gaze.
"Is it?" I laughed.
"Yeah, the kind that makes you want to throw your patience out the window and repeatedly jam your office phone against someone's head," he said, laughing.
Frank rolled his eyes. "All I'm saying is Mr. Holt didn't need to come all the way down to the sub basement to hand you a file of facts to check." A wadded up piece of paper crashed against the side of Frank's face, and his eyes narrowed at Mandy.
"I don't mind. The scenery is much nicer than upstairs," James said, stepping forward and laying a folder on my desk. My cheeks burned as I watched him stare at me. A stare that pierced my skin and bit intensely through all my senses.
My eyes moved over him. I couldn't help myself. From his strong hands to the top of his head and back down again, really slow. His smile widened as his eyes remained locked on mine. "I'm glad you're okay," he whispered, leaning his hand on my desk, drifting forward, closer to me. A slightly sheepish look in his eyes, smile full of danger. He took a slow, deep breath, "You've been on my mind."
My heart slammed against my chest. His eyes were everywhere: on my face, eyes, lips, and back to my eyes. Heat flooded through my body under his gaze. He is a dangerous, dangerous man, I thought as he leaned closer.
I clenched my hands around my bag of chocolate to keep them from pulling his face to mine. Somehow, without thinking, I unwrapped one and popped it into my mouth.
"Well, then," he said blinking and leaning back, running a hand through his unruly hair. "I'll see you when you finish, yeah?"
I nodded and chewed. Words? I had none.
James spun around and walked out without another word.
What the hell just happened?
Mandy stared at the door for a beat then slowly turned her head in my direction. "You slept with that man on that airplane!"
"I did no such thing," I gasped loudly.
"Dry humped?" she asked, looking confused.
"No," I said, shaking my head wildly.
"A feel up?" she squeaked, jamming her hands on her hips.
"No! Stop. Not even a kiss."
"Something happened. He was about to grab you and drag you over your desk and screw you in front of us!" she said way too loudly, pointing her index finger in my direction.
"I agree," Frank piped in from behind his cubicle, "that man looked like he was hungry and remembered you were his favorite meal."
"Trust me, nothing happened. I, um just somehow misplaced a pair of underwear in his presence."
"What?" they asked in unison.
9
Jameson
“All my friends are couples. Married. With kids. It’s all good though. Because I have beer. Who’s the loser now?” @Kavon #NotMe