Twisted Hate

15

Max didn't contact me again after his initial texts. I was theone who'd ignored him first, but his silence festered until Iwas a mess of anxiety by the time I boarded my flight back toD.C.I'd used my period as an excuse for why I ran out of lunchso suddenly, and no one questioned it, though Josh'sskepticism had been so thick it was tangible. I'd ignored it; Ihad bigger issues to worry about than whatever he thoughtof me.I tapped my pen against my desk and stared at the screenbefore me. I was finally working on LHAC's main floor aftermy desk arrived yesterday, and I could hear the shuffling ofpapers from Ellie's desk behind me, the faint flush of thetoilet from the bathroom down the hall, and the jangle of thebells above the front door every time it opened. It was morechaotic than working alone in the kitchen, but I thrived withbackground noise.Unless, of course, I was distracted by other things.My eyes strayed to my phone. It sat dark and silent nextto my mug of pens, but that didn't stop me from holding mybreath like it was going to light up with a new message fromMax any minute.I should just call him and get it over with, but I couldn'tbring myself to leave my cycle of half miserable, half blissfulignorance.Focus.I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I'djust started typing again when Ellie squealed behind me."Josh! I didn't know you were coming in today.""Hey, El." Josh's deep, flirtatious drawl raised myhackles. "New haircut?"Surprised flattery filled her giggle. "Yep. I can't believeyou noticed."My grimace reflected back at me from my computerscreen. Ellie was sweet, but her crush on Josh was so obviousit was painful."It looks good," Josh said. "Short hair suits you.""Thank you." Another giggle.I typed faster, the click-clack of my keyboard adopting afurious tempo as the sound of footsteps neared. Theystopped next to me.Clack. Clack. Clack—"Jules."I waited several beats before I lifted my head to meetJosh's eyes. The first thing I noticed were his scrubs. It wasmy first time seeing him in his doctor's clothes, since heusually changed out of them before arriving at the clinic. Theblue uniform was too shapeless to be objectively flattering,and yet...Something in my chest stumbled.Oh no. Oh no, no, no.My stomach knotted with horror. I couldn't possibly feel...attraction toward Josh Chen. Not here, in D.C. I could chalkup my momentary loss of good judgment in Vermont to themountain air, but here I had no excuse.Any butterflies, flutters, and skipped heartbeats wereunacceptable. Unthinkable. Downright disgusting."I see your desk has arrived." Josh's gaze flitted from myface to my favorite fluffy pink pen. A hint of a smile filled thecorners of his mouth. "Looks like we're neighbors. Luckyyou."He angled his head toward the desk across the aisle frommine. I'd wondered who it belonged to, since its sparsedecorations provided no clue as to its owner's identity."I'm thrilled," I said flatly. I leaned back in my chair andnarrowed my eyes. "I didn't realize volunteers had their owndesks.""They don't. Only I do." His voice took on a familiarcocky lilt. "I'm beloved around here, Red."Sadly, it was true. The rest of the clinic staff fawned overhim like he was the second coming of the messiah. It wasenough to make a girl want to hurl."I can't imagine why." Keep to the truce. "Well, as lovelyas this conversation is, I have to get back to work. Lots todo," I chirped with false pep.Josh's eyes glinted with amusement. "Of course."He settled in at his desk, and we didn't speak again forthe rest of the afternoon.By the time the clock ticked toward five, I was blearyeyed from staring at the screen so long, and my wrists achedfrom typing. I might've been a little aggressive with mykeyboard, but it was a good release for my pent-up tension."What a day." Ellie yawned. "I could use a drink. Anyoneelse down? The Black Fox has a great happy hour special."The Black Fox was the bar across the street and a popularwatering hole for hospital staff."I am." Marshall was the picture of eagerness. Like Ellie,he was a full-time research associate, and if Ellie's interestin Josh was a flashing neon sign, Marshall's interest in Elliewas a full-blown billboard complete with floodlights andten-foot-high letters spelling out I LOVE ELLIE. "I mean, I'llgo with you.""Great," Ellie said. "Josh?""Sure. I'll never turn down a cheap drink." His dimplemade a quick appearance. "You in, Red?"I hesitated. I had to study for finals and pack for myupcoming move, but I could use a de-stresser. "Sure, whynot?"No one else at the clinic could join us, so half an hourlater, it was just the four of us who crowded around a table atThe Black Fox, nursing watered down but insanely cheapdrinks."I propose we play a game." Ellie was technicallyspeaking to the whole table, but her eyes were fixed on Josh.His lips quirked. "What kind of game?"He sat beside me, one arm draped over the back of thechair next to him while his other hand held a half-emptyglass of Coke and whiskey. He'd changed out of his scrubs,and his pose, combined with his tousled dark hair and newoutfit—navy blue cashmere sweater with the sleeves pushedup, watch glinting on his wrist—made him look like he wasposing for a men's fashion magazine.I drained the rest of my drink in an attempt to douse theheat blooming in my stomach."Truth or Dare," Ellie decided."El, I don't know if that's a good idea." Marshall shiftedin his seat. "We work together. It's inappropriate."I suppressed a wince. Marshall was only a few years olderthan Ellie, but lecturing someone on propriety in the middleof happy hour wasn't the best way to spark a girl's interest."It's just us. It's not like Lisa's here." Ellie waved adismissive hand in the air. "So? What do you think?"Josh lifted his glass to his lips, his eyes dancing withamusement. "Let's do it.""Great." She beamed and turned to me. "Jules?""Sure." In normal times, I would've been the one whosuggested a game first, but all my worrying over the pastweek had drained me of energy and the best I could do wasgo with the flow."Marshall?" Ellie nudged him, causing his cheeks to flushred."Okay." He sounded resigned.To no one's surprise, Ellie chose Josh for the first round."Truth or Dare?" she asked."Truth."Huh. I tamped down my surprise. I'd expected him tochoose Dare.Ellie leaned forward so he had an unimpeded view of hercleavage. She'd tossed her blazer long ago, and her breastspractically spilled out of her tank top.I glanced at Josh, whose gaze remained fixed on Ellie'sface. His expression didn't so much as flicker.The same couldn't be said for Marshall, who looked likehe was about to burst into flames."Are you interested in anyone at the clinic?" Ellie asked.Subtle.Josh's eyebrows winged upward. "A volunteer or staffmember?"I shifted in my seat, and the vinyl released anembarrassing squeak when my thighs unstuck from thematerial. Josh flicked his eyes in my direction, hisamusement visibly deepening. I lifted my chin defiantly inreply."Either or," Ellie said, bringing his attention back to her."But let's say it's a staff member.""I'm interested in everyone at the clinic," Josh said."You're all great."She deflated, obviously realizing she should've been morespecific."Jules." Josh shifted his gaze to me, and I straightened inanticipation. "Truth or Dare?""Dare." I answered without hesitation.A slow smile spread across his face. "I dare you to kisssomeone at this table for thirty seconds."I recognized the satisfied gleam in his eyes; he expectedme to back down.Too bad for him, I'd never backed down from a dare in mylife.I kept my gaze fixed on his as I leaned forward, closingthe distance between us inch by agonizing inch until hissmile slipped and heat flared in his eyes.I waited until our faces were only inches apart before Iswerved abruptly and kissed a startled Marshall instead."Mmmphng," he squeaked."You okay with this?" I whispered against his lips."Mmmphng," he repeated, higher pitched this time. Hedidn't move away, so I took that as a yes.I guided him through the kiss and let it linger for therequisite thirty seconds before I pulled back. A self-satisfiedsmile bloomed on my mouth at the reactions around me.Ellie's jaw grazed the table while Josh stared at me, hisamusement from earlier locked away behind a stone-facedmask. Marshall, meanwhile, sat frozen in his chair withglassy eyes and his mouth agape."Sorry for springing that on you," I said. "But you're agreat kisser. A-plus.""N-n-no problem," he stuttered. "I, um, I..." His eyesdarted toward Ellie, who eyed him with a smidge moreinterest than before.I hid a smile. The best way to spark a woman's interestwas to introduce a little competition. "I believe that wasthirty seconds?"I directed my question at Josh, who responded with acool,"More than thirty. You must've been really into it.""Like I said..." I toyed with my now-empty glass."Marshall's a great kisser.""I'll take your word for it." He flicked his eyes towardMarshall. "Marshall, my man. Your turn."We played another three rounds before Ellie reluctantlyexcused herself, citing an early flight tomorrow. Apparently,it was her grandmother's eighty-fifth birthday, so she wasflying home to Milwaukee for the celebration.She eyed Josh like she wanted him to leave with her, buthe merely wished her a good night and a safe flight home.Marshall, of course, offered to split an Uber with her sincethey had to go in the same direction.And then there were two."Ellie has a crush on you," I said after our coworkers left.I stole the last fry from the basket and popped it in mymouth. I wasn't breaking girl code because I was onehundred percent sure Josh knew. Hell, he was so arrogant heprobably thought every straight woman crushed on him evenwhen they didn't.His lips curved. "I'm aware.""You interested?""You care?"I chewed slowly and swallowed before I responded with adeliberate,"Not even a little bit."Animosity crackled between us, masking something elsebeneath the surface."Of course you don't," Josh said softly. He finished hisdrink without taking his eyes off me. "Nice show you put onwith Marshall earlier.""I have no idea what you're talking about.""Don't play dumb. It's unbecoming.""I'm not. You think I wouldn't have kissed Marshall ofmy own accord, just because he doesn't have a perfect faceand six-pack abs?" I shot Josh a pointed stare. "Looks aren'teverything. At least Marshall is sweet."His smile took on a hard slant. "You don't want or needsweet, Red. It would bore you to death.""Oh, really?" My voice dripped with poisonous honey."Then please, pray tell, what do I want and need? Since youknow me so well."Josh leaned forward until his mouth hovered near my ear,and it was all I could do not to pull back. My heart rumbledso loud in my chest I would've missed his reply had his voicenot poured into me like dark silk, dangerous yet seductive."You want someone who can challenge you. Excite you.Keep you on your toes. And as for what you need..." Hiswhiskey-scented breath gusted across my skin, peppering itwith a thousand goosebumps. "You need someone to bendyou over and fuck that attitude right out of you."My reaction was instantaneous.My nipples pebbled into hard, painful points, and a rushof hot moisture soaked my panties. Every gust of air againstmy sensitized skin added to the need pulsing low in my belly."You think Marshall can do that?" Josh's voice wrappedaround me like a velvet embrace. "Fuck you the way youneed?""And you can?" I managed. Oxygen. I needed oxygen."Keep dreaming.""I wasn't offering." Josh's hand grazed my knee for amillisecond, just long enough to set my body aflame. "Butit's nice to know that's where your mind went."I was saved from having to formulate a witty response inmy current lightheaded state when someone cut into ourconversation."Jules?"The unfamiliar voice had the same effect as a bucket ofcold water.I jerked back, heart pounding, while Josh took his timeresettling in his seat with a dark, satisfied smile.That fucking bastard.After our interloper left, I would pay him back. Somehow.In the meantime, I had someone else to deal with.My eyes fell on the preppy, somewhat familiar-lookingguy who'd interrupted us. He wore the unofficial D.C. men'suniform of a blue-and-white gingham shirt and khakis, andhe'd slicked back his hair in a way that did nothing for hisfeatures.He fixed me with an expectant stare, which I returnedwith a blank one of my own until my memory pieces slottedinto place and recognition dawned.It was Todd...the guy who'd stood me up weeks ago.