hidden | ethma

twenty eight

i scribble the edits in my manuscripts, trying desperately to focus. 

ethan hasn't spoken to me, or acknowledged me, at all today. he swivels around in his chair, occasionally chewing on the end of his pen. i know he sees me staring, but he doesn't meet my gaze. 

i'm dying to talk to him; to ask him what the hell happened between us. does he even know? he's insulted and snapped at me countless times, so why did he lean in and kiss me? 

and why on earth did i enjoy it? 

"psst." 

i snap my gaze away from ethan over to zeke. 

"you all right?" he questions. 

i nod distantly, clicking my red pen. "just distracted," i mumble.

zeke smirks. "by dolan?" 

i quickly shake my head. "oh, no. just... this manuscript is shit." i laugh shakily.

zeke chuckles. "yeah, every once in awhile you get a flop. you best just toss it now and get to the good ones." 

i nod. "thanks."  zeke returns to his own work and my eyes flick to the clock on the wall. 10:30. lunch break isn't for another hour and a half. i decide i need coffee and get up to make my way to the break room. 

luckily, the pot of coffee on the machine is still warm, and i pour myself a mug. i flash back to when ethan and i had tea together, and couldn't stop laughing. 

i shake away the memory and add almond milk to my coffee. the cold drink coats my throat and i instantly feel a bit calmer. 

someone enters the break room and i turn, half expecting to see ethan.

instead i find perla, who shoots me a friendly smile. her soft blonde locks are curled into pretty waves and her blue eyes squint as she smiles. 

"any more coffee left?" she asks, peering into the pot. 

"a bit," i reply, leaning against the counter. 

"it's just a coffee kind of day, isn't it?" 

"i couldn't agree more." 

we laugh a bit as perla pours herself a mug. she tucks some hair behind her ear and leans next to me on the counter. 

"so," she says, a cheeky smile crossing her lips. "zeke is taking me out to dinner friday night." she blushes and looks into her coffee. 

i shove her shoulder lightly, my jaw dropping. "seriously? that's amazing!" 

she laughs and nods, her cheeks a rosy pink. 

"when did he ask you?" i inquire. 

"yesterday, after work. he was so nervous, you should have seen him," she gushes. 

"how cute," i say, grinning.

perla nods and blushes again. "so, how's aaron, then?" she wiggles her eyebrows up and down and i laugh.