Just Friends

Chapter 6

"Ready to head over to the office?" Judd had turned to me as soon as the professor ended class.

"Yep! Just let me grab my stuff." I shoved my notebook, new syllabus, and pen into me bag and lifted it to my shoulder.

"Here, let me get that." He reached for my bag.

"That's ok, I carry it around all the time."

"All the more reason to let me carry it for now." He smiled with those damn eye crinkles and I fell victim to do whatever he wanted.

"Fine, but if even one of my fruit roll ups goes missing from my secret stash I will end you." I narrowed my eyes and pointed a finger to show I meant business.

A loud laugh escaped him. "I won't even touch them. You have my word." He held up his palms in surrender and we both laughed.

Along the walk to the office, we ended up talking about all kinds of things from our favorite candy, food, movies, shows, books, and music. We surprisingly had a lot in common.

Once we made it to the office door, Judd handed me my bag back.

"Thanks for being my pack mule."

"Anytime, but I do think I earned a gift in return for such a good deed. Don't you agree?" He eyed me suggestively with a lifted brow.

My heart stuttered a second and my gaze fell to his full lips. I gulped and tried my best to keep my voice even. "What, um, what did you have in mind?"

He took a step closer so I could now feel the heat radiating off him. My head was buzzing and there's no way he couldn't hear my heart beating relentlessly as if it'd bust right out of my chest at any moment.

"I think you know," he said coolly as his hand moved toward me.

I braced myself.

His hand came to a rest on the top of my bag at my side. "May I?"

I nodded numbly, not at all comprehending what he was asking until his hand slipped back out of my bag holding a fruit roll up.

"Yes! My favorite flavor."

My body relaxed but my mind still raced. I looked down to his hand again and snapped back to reality as he tore into the wrapper. What? How did I let him talk me out of one of my snacks?

"Damn it, berry is my favorite too!" I pouted.

He shrugged and unwrapped it. "Just another thing we have in common." And with that he popped it in his mouth and walked away.

I watched him saunter off until an older woman came to the front desk from what looked like a kitchenette. As soon as she saw me a warm smile spread across her face. I closed the distance between us to shake her hand.

"Hi there sweetheart, I'm Christine. Are you Eva?"

"Yes ma'am, it's nice to meet you." She held my hand in her warm one and gave a gentle squeeze.

"Well let's talk. Follow me, it won't take long." She turned and lead me into the kitchenette, then gestured for me to sit at one of the break room tables.

She sat across from me and asked about my prior work experience and class schedule. She was jotting down my legal information for payroll when John stepped into the break room to refill his empty coffee mug.

"Hey Eva, good to see you again. Christine, what did I tell you? She'll make a perfect fit, right?"

"Absolutely." Christine's smile warmed me once again.

I couldn't help the cheesy grin that burst over my own face.

"What would you say to start training today after your next class?" Christine I clicked her pen and laid it on top of her note pad.

"I'd love that! This next class is just an activity class so it's a short one and I can come back right after it at 2 if that's alright?"

"That will work out well. Nikki, our current receptionist comes in at 1 and will be able to train you then." Satisfied, she pushed back from the table and stood as I did the same. She took my hand in hers again. "It was wonderful meeting you and I look forward to having you join our little work family here."

She had such a comforting and maternal quality to her, that it pulled an unexpected longing from my chest. I felt a lump grow in my throat but I swallowed it and pushed my emotions down before they threatened to overtake me.

"Thank you so much for taking time to meet with me. I'm excited to start learning!"

John nodded a smile at me as he sipped his coffee and exited the break room ahead of us. Christine saw me out the office door.

Excitement surged through me as I glided down the stairs to the bathrooms by the ballrooms. I had to change out of my cute clothes and into some work out attire for my pilates class.

I was still shoving my shirt into my bag as I pushed open the bathroom door and walked in the general direction of the exit.

Before I could look up, I ran smack into a hard form and stubbled backward. My bag flew off my shoulder and landed upside down on the floor between our feet.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking w-" Judd's strong hands grasped my waist to hold me steady. Heat shot out from under his touch all over my body.

"N- no problem. I'm totally f-fine. Thanks!" My words fumbled out of my mouth at an unnaturally high octave.

"Eva, I didn't see you coming around the corner there. Here, let me help you pick up your..." His voice trailed off as his attention moved to my stuff on the ground. I followed his gaze and immediately wished I could fold right into myself and die on the spot.

My black sheer lacy bra was of course the only item that came all the way out of my bag. My shirt just dangled by a sleeve. I dashed down to grab my belongings and stuff them deep down into my bag and out of sight as quickly as possible.

Heat prickled at my cheeks as I moved past Judd, hearing him audibly gulp and then his breath hitch when my arm brushed his.

"It's my fault. I should've been looking where I was going. Thanks for the help. I owe you one." I said fast over my shoulder and pushed out the door.

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Author's Note
Sorry for the shorter chapter. The last one was super long because I couldn't find a good spot to break it off.

However, the next one is in Judd's point of view!

So I wanted to make that it's own chapter. I'm getting to work on it now! Trying to pump out as many as I can while I have the time.

Thank you so much for your votes and comments!❤️⭐️