EXES AND OH'S

F*cking Ducks in a Row

"Boss wants you in his office," Dan's greeting as soon as I got out of the elevator, with a huge dorky-slash-creepy smile plastered up on his face. Seriously, was he standing there waiting for me the whole time? Christ on Crocs.

"Oh, hello, Dan. Good morning to you, too." I greet him with a snarky smile, stepping out of the elevator. "What does Jesse want?" I tread the hall and Dan follows me like the ugly duckling behind his cruel momma's trail.

"I — I don't know, he didn't say," he answers, sounding totally clueless as always. "Oh, and um, Charlie... Can you hand him his coffee and bagel? I really don't want to ruin Jesse's mood. He looks really happy." Dan gives me another dorky smile, and I roll my eyes all the way to my ass.

"God, you're such a wuss! Get your fucking ducks in a row!" I bark at him. "Man up and grow a pair, will you Dan? Haven't you still gotten used to Jesse biting your ass in the morning? You've been working for him for two years now! Gimme that! Ugh!" I groan and violently snatch the tall cup of coffee and paper bag from his hands.

"Th-thanks, Charlie." Dan beams at me in that super annoying goofy way, and walks to his desk to fire up his Mac.

I place Jesse's morning fix on the table and throw my small leather backpack on my swivel chair, checking my reflection in the small mirror on top of my desk. I'm sure I look like shit, cause I feel like shit. I spent the whole Sunday in my bed, alone. I didn't feel like talking to anyone. And I didn't feel like doing anything or going out either. So I just slept my tired ass off yesterday.

I intend to speak with Jesse today too, regarding my plan to apply for that promotion in LA, but not like this early in the morning. I am still grumpy and out of focus and... horny?

Levi's sexy Tom Ford perfume still lingers in my sheets and pillowcase. And yeah, I have to admit that's ninety percent of the reason why I stayed in bed all day yesterday. I miss Levi, and I wanted to torture myself more by dawdling and dreaming of him while inhaling his scent. 

Hell, I was hoping for a wet dream too. But nah, all I had were a bad mix of dreams that can never come true — like, green eyes looking down on my dark browns, holding hands and strolling together barefoot by the beach, stopping to kiss by the shore as the sandy waves gently touch our feet.

I sigh and pout. What a sad mood on a fine Monday morning. Fuck, it feels even sadder than watching The Notebook at a funeral. Really, that sad. 

I hope my mood picks up later, perhaps once I've spoken to Jesse about the whole LA thing. But really, if there's a thing that's going to change my mood, it's gotta be a good ten inch, powered by two double-A batteries, and a good twenty-minute break. I let out another breath. I should have brought my old chum Daggins. He's a real pick-me-upper, and he never breaks my heart.

I march to the door to Jesse's office, and let myself inside after a quick knock, like how I usually do. And when I step in, I instantly see a pair of green eyes looking up at me. Levi's sitting beside Jesse, looking so fine and... pissed. My breath got stuck in my throat and my head felt cold and prickly again.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!

"I'm — I'm sorry, Jesse, I didn't know you have..." I move my gaze away from Levi and look at Jesse's light blue eyes instead. "I'll... I'll just come back later." I stammer, and was ready to bolt out of his office when Jesse called for me.

"Hey, Charlie, don't go! Come back here. Levi's just stepping out." He flashes me a big, mischievous smile, then widens his eyes at Levi, as if telling the fucker to scram already.