𝐍𝐀𝐎𝐌𝐈
It was bad enough working in a bakery with karens, but being an assistant is probably worse.
Working at Cyber Tech is like highschool all over again. Gossiping girls who point and laugh. I just have to navigate my way through the waters o...
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I didn't even plan for this party, and I'm already panicking. I dart around my kitchen in a frenzy, trying to make sure everything is perfect. Maya and Mason are already here, having shown up together. Christmas movies are playing on my TV and Christmas music plays from my Alexa.
My island is covered in food and snacks, and I'm trying to organize it all. Why? Because it looks like a fucking mess.
"Where is the..." I bend down, scouring through my cabinets. "Aha." I grab the container I was looking for from the bottom cabinet, my head bumping into the top on the way out. But it didn't hurt.
Odd.
I find fingers gripping the top of the counter, shielding it, and I follow it up to find Rhys staring down at me with his eyebrow raised. "Find what you need?"
"Yes. I did, actually." I take the hand he offers me and stand. I use the container and put the cookies inside, allowing for a more festive and spacious bowl. "Who all's here?"
"Mason, Maya...and my brother just pulled in." I hear him walk away, and I go back to organizing.
Where the hell is Lindsey?
I check my phone, finding a message from her:
LINDSEY: I'm going to be a little late
LINDSEY: Hold up for me?
I scoff. She throws this party in my house and she's going to be late?
"Hey."
I jump at both his voice and the touch. "Jesus Christ."
"You're awfully jumpy today." He states as I step out of his grasp.
"My mind's just all over the place." I mumble.
"Okay," He grabs my hands, turning me to him. "You've reorganized that row five times already."
I look at it confused. "I have? I could've sworn..." I trail off, only to pick it back up. "It's uneven."
I start to pull my hands away, but he holds them tightly. "No. Look at me." I do. "Breathe."
"I'm fine." I free my hands, walking around to the side of my island.
"Naomi," He walks to me, grabbing my shoulders. "Breathe." He's not gonna let this go, is he? Sighing, I inhale, and we both exhale. "It's just family and friends, there's no reason to panic." I run a hand through my hair, sighing. He's right. I know he is. But I can't stop myself. "Look," I turn to him, one hand on the counter and the other on my hip. "This isn't your party, but this is your house."
"Wha—" He guides me out of the kitchen, into the entryway.
"You should be greeting your guests. So, while you do that, I'll clean up the kitchen." He tells, then kisses my cheek. "Relax, okay? You know everyone here, or that's going to be here."
