Sitting in Mia's office, I tried to focus on the stack of papers in front of me, but my mind kept wandering, the office was quiet, save for the soft hum of computers and the distant sound of phones ringing, despite the silence, I couldn't shake the tension that coiled in my chest, making it hard to breathe
Mia, perched at her desk, was typing something into her computer, every so often, she'd glance up at me, her eyes sparkling with a quiet amusement that made me wonder if she could read my mind
The way she looked at me lately felt different not just in the protective, friendly way she always had, but with something else behind it, something I couldn't quite name.
She must have noticed me staring because she suddenly stopped typing and looked directly at me. "Okay, seriously," she said, breaking the silence with a playful tone. "What's going on in that head of yours? You've been spacing out for the past twenty minutes."
Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I blinked, trying to refocus. "Sorry, just... distracted, I guess."
Mia raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair with a smirk that was both teasing and knowing. "Distracted, huh? Is it work-related? Or... something else?"
The way she emphasized "something else" sent a shiver down my spine, and I quickly averted my gaze, pretending to be interested in the papers on her desk
"Work-related," I mumbled, though we both knew that wasn't entirely true If only work was the biggest thing on my mind right now.
Mia let out a soft laugh, the sound lightening the air between us. "Come on, Emma. You're a terrible liar. What's really going on?"
I hesitated, the words tangled up inside me
How could I explain everything I was feeling without spilling too much? It wasn't just Rebecca's coldness that had thrown me off, It was the way Mia had been there for me through it all, the way she made me feel... safe. And maybe even more than that
"Just... stuff," I said vaguely, hoping she'd drop it
But of course, Mia wasn't one to let things slide, she stood up, rounding her desk to perch on the edge, right in front of me, her legs dangled just inches from mine, and I became acutely aware of the closeness, the subtle heat that radiated between us
"Stuff, huh?" she repeated, her tone light but her gaze probing. "Care to elaborate on that? Maybe I can help."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair and running a hand through my hair. "It's complicated."
"Life usually is," she said, nodding as if she'd expected that answer. "But talking about it helps, you know? And if you're not ready to talk, well... I'm really good at distractions."
Her grin was so infectious that I couldn't help but smile back, despite the turmoil inside me. "Distractions, huh? What kind of distractions?"
"Oh, you know," Mia said, waving her hand dismissively. "The usual. Bad jokes, terrible advice, maybe even a spontaneous dance-off if you're feeling adventurous."
I laughed, the tension in my chest easing just a little. "I don't know if I'm ready for a dance-off in the middle of the office."
Mia shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Your loss I've got some killer moves, you know."
She hopped off the desk, her movements fluid and graceful, and I couldn't help but watch her with a newfound appreciation, there was something about the way she carried herself confident, carefree that made it hard to look away
As she settled back into her chair, she crossed her legs and leaned forward, her expression softening. "Seriously though, Emma... You've been off lately and I'm not trying to pry, but I care about you. If something's wrong, you know you can tell me."
YOU ARE READING
The Space Between Us
Romance"If you wanted to feel my touch, you only had to say," her voice was a sultry whisper, her fingers brushing against my heated skin My breath hitched as her lips hovered near her ear, "All this tension, Emma don't pretend you're not drawn to me." Emm...
