Chapter 15
Nadine
The Thursday after our karaoke adventure, I make the unpleasant realization that I’ll need to work late. Really late.
It’s been one of those days where back-to-back meetings equals zero desk time, and zero desk time means that I haven’t had a chance to address those “urgent” emails, nor pull together my weekly report for tomorrow’s meeting with my boss.
Definitely an after-five kind of work night.
I finally get a five-minute break between meetings, and it gives me a chance to pee, grab a much-needed Diet Coke, and text my carpool buddy who also happens to be my fu—, er, sex buddy, who also happens to be my best friend.
I shake my head as I pull out my cellphone, marveling, not for the first time, at how intertwined my life is with James Reid's.
Especially lately.
On paper, I’m sure we look unhealthy, spending so much time together, especially now that we’ve added nights—all night—to the mix.
But the thing is, it doesn’t feel unhealthy.
Because if it were, I wouldn’t feel so happy all the time, right?
And I do.
Feel happy, that is.
I guess that’s the power of regular orgasms?
I text him:
Hey, you okay if I work late? Maybe Quinito could give you a ride home?
I start to put my phone away, but he texts back immediately, probably between meetings himself.
Nah, I’ll wait around. Have some things I can work on.
Cool. Meet you at the car around 7?
Yup.
I set my phone on top of my notebook and start to head toward the conference room when it buzzes again.
Wanna grab dinner out tonight? Somewhere expensive? My treat. I’ve got news.
My eyebrows lift. Olsen, you asking me out on a date?
His response is immediate.
Totally. I hope you like the three dozen pink carnations I ordered. I also wrote love notes all over your windshield.
I smile. And *this* is why you don’t have a girlfriend.
Why would I need a girlfriend when I’m getting regular sex from my hussy roommate?
“What are you looking so happy about?” I jump as I see Mika and Yassi walking toward me.
Mika slows her walk and makes a slight face toward Yassi.
Yassi, in all her inappropriateness, tries to look at my phone, and I lock it before she can see the screen. The last thing I need is for the office snot to learn about James and me.
Or for Mika to learn.
“Ooh, I know that look,” Yassi says in an annoying singsong voice. “Nadine's texting her boyfriend.”
“Actually, Paulo dumped me,” I say with a wide smile. “Thanks for bringing it up, though.”
She has the decency to look slightly embarrassed by her gaffe, but I don’t like her enough to reassure her that I haven’t really thought about Paulo in days.
