Endless: REWRITTEN

5. Quartz

Robin

I don't talk about work that often, but when I do, it's because something life-changing happened, and that doesn't happen often. But as soon as I learned her name, I knew this wasn't a typical flirt.

"And so this guy was just all on her and I knew he was going to do something bad, so I came in and pop! Ripped him off of her and got him right in the nose. He was out cold on the floor in seconds. And I think she got really scared because she got sick in a bush, which is really gross, but I didn't mind for some reason. I wanted to take care of her. So we debated a little bit and I took her home on my bike and I purposely left my jacket with her so that she'd remember me; that's the trick. But oh my God, Mordecai, what's really amazing is how gorgeous she is. Seriously, like—"

"Are you going to tell her?"

I blink. "That I like her? Maybe. I'm not sure yet."

"No... you know what I mean."

I cross my arms sheepishly. Mordecai is barely paying me the time of day, focused on his files from work, and it's honestly making me feel kind of bad. "I don't want to lose her."

"You will if you don't tell her." He looks up at me with something sad in his eyes. "Trust me, I know. That's not a path you want to take."

"But do I have to tell her right now?"

"Waiting until she loves you to tell her that big of a secret is manipulation. Don't fuck with karma, it bites back."

"I know." I run a hand over my face. I hate when I get like this because when I really like someone, the rest of the world fades away. I don't even know anything about this woman and I'm thinking about her falling in love with me. All I know is her name and what she does for a living.

The last time I liked someone this much was Vanessa, and we all know how that turned out. Or at least my brother told you.

"Ask her out, I guess," Mordecai shrugs. "My only advice for right now."

"Come on, I only told you in hopes that you would tell me what to do," I groan, flopping on the couch bed.

"What makes you think I would know?" He sounds genuinely confused.

"Seriously?" I raise an eyebrow at him. "You don't think you have to be romantic to keep the pixie around? Not to mention that she's sensitive; you know how to talk to women."

"I know how to talk to her, and that's because I've known her for a while. And you flirt with women every day. What's different about this one?" I inhale to reply, but he puts a hand up. "Never mind, you already embellished enough for one evening. Did you get her number?"

"No, I gave her mine... fuck!" I completely forgot that her phone broke in the altercation between her and that asshole.

I sigh, sinking my head into my hands. I can only hope that she'd remember my number when she gets a new phone, but at the same time, I'm just some guy who rescued her and took her home. A probable weirdo in the grand scheme of things. Maybe she's just a pleasant person and I was friend-zoned from the start. Maybe—

"Stop overthinking, I know that face," Mordecai points out.

"Oh, I'm sorry, is my self-loathing interrupting your relaxing evening? I'll try smiling more."

"If you want her, go find her. You know what she does. Do some research. And try to not be creepy about it."

He thinks that I haven't already thought of doing that. The truth is that it does seem creepy to me, no matter in what fashion I do it. This woman is probably not even thinking about me at all, and here I am, scouring Manhattan for her. Maybe I should just let it go.