Page 57

Suits

Jay regarded me with silence. His brown eyes, hidden behind wiry frames, smothered me.

I looked away. The dark grey of a cloudy afternoon greeted me with an odd warmth. My tie felt stuffy against my neck, and my suit constricted my breathing. My heart hammered against my ribcage.

I kept my eyes from wandering over to him. I counted the leaves of the closest tree, and traced my eyes along the patterned, metal furniture.

"Aiden," Jay said my name in his awful, monotonous voice. I caught his gaze and held it. I saw his jaw tick with his thoughts. As he opened his mouth to say something, I cut him off.

"Cold today, isn't it?" I looked up towards the sky. The sun's rays shone through the clouds, but the sun stayed hidden. "Almost looks like it's going to rain."

"Aiden," I turned to a short woman walking up behind us. "Ms. Leski is asking for you."

I smiled for her, easily. "Thank you, Lorraine. I'll be there in a minute."

I could not fight myself as I threw my arms around Jay's middle. The crisp folds of his suit were crushed softly against my face. His body grew stiff in my embrace, and I took advantage of his shock to savor the moment.

I tried to commit it to memory, but I released him too soon.

"It's cold," I muttered to him as an excuse. He was still frozen as I edged away from him and into the foyer of our clients' house.

My hand unconsciously brushed over my lips, where the suit pressed against for a moment, and I closed my eyes.

I didn't notice Jay's hand reaching out to stop me from walking away, or the way his eyes watched my back.

One-sided feelings were all I'd ever known, and Jay was no different.

"Hello, Mrs. Leski."

I undid my tie.

She slid off her ring.

"Alfred."