Chapter 17
"Wait, just like that?" I could make out the furrow in Lydia's brows from my peripheral vision while my eyes remained fixed on the road. "He just went full-on 'stay away from me, it hurts too much' on you?"
I was driving Lydia and I to our favourite fast food restaurant to get lunch while I filled her in on what occurred with Connor shortly before I asked her to come with me.
"Yup." I replied, popping the 'p'.
Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint a particular way I felt about what Connor said to me. I kind of felt bad when he said it because I believed it didn't have to come to that. But then again, I couldn't invalidate how he was feeling and tell him the way he was acting was unnecessary.
But I guess Lydia didn't care much about that.
"He's acting totally unnecessary." She said flatly. "Honestly, it seems childish to behave like this because you rejected the offer of a relationship with him. I mean, he's a grown man, he should be able to handle rejection better."
"I don't know, Lyd. It honestly sucks." I let out a sigh. "And what sucks more is that this was exactly what I was trying to avoid, you know? This whole awkwardness."
"Yeah." She agreed with a nod.
"It's going to be so awkward at work now and Kendra's definitely going to notice." I rubbed my temples briefly. "He's literally been my closest friend at work. His office is basically two doors from mine, there's no way we can avoid seeing each other. God, I wish nothing had even happened between us in the first place, why is-"
"Okay, Grace, you have to calm down." She said steadily. "Deep breaths, honey, come on."
I did as she said when I noticed I was actually saying a lot of things at once and in a way that was causing me to hyperventilate. Thankfully, I had finally gotten to the restaurant so I just parked in the parking lot.
"Listen," Lydia placed her hand on mine, causing me to look at her, "Connor's just coming from a place of hurt right now. I feel the best thing is to just give him some time to heal. Don't think too much about it, he'll come around soon."
I nodded.
"And in the mean time," she smiled cutely, "you have me."
That made me smile; chuckle even.
"I can be your work bestie." She said again, smiling wider. "Who needs Connor anyways?"
"Right." I laughed again.
"And there're also perks; I won't catch feelings for you or end up having sex with you."
"Alright Lydia, you've had your fun." I laughed as I got down from the car, Lydia doing the same after me.
I locked my car with the keys and we both walked into the restaurant together.
* * * *
Lydia was a great help in making me feel better about the entire situation.
We had lunch at the restaurant before heading back to work. After which I continued the work I had to do, staying in my office the entire time.
Kendra came to see me briefly. We had a little chat about random things before she had to head back to her office. She didn't bring Dean up, which I was happy about, because then I would've had to tell her that I wasn't taking her advice anymore.
Sometimes I wondered if Kendra wouldn't have anything negative thing to say if I told her about Connor. It was kind of sad that I felt the need to hide it from her because I wasn't sure what she'd think of it.
