She’s killing me a little bit with her bravery. It’s clear this situation put her heart in a vise, yet she stuck around to see it through. I rest my hands on my hips. “Nobody’s saying you aren’t.”
“My boss would probably disagree.”
A car whooshes past, kicking up a gust of snowy road grit.
“On what grounds? You’re out here while he’s in his comfy office.”
She shrugs, but it feels heavy. Resigned. “It’s happened before. It’s fine.”
This doesn’t sound fine. “How do you mean?”
“Being the new person, the youngest. Being the girl.” She shrugs again. “Everyone expects less. Expects you to fuck up. Expects you to not carry your weight. Expects you to get emotional. Expects you to quit.”
“Sounds like you’ve been working with assholes.” Who is this boss? Sounds like he needs an attitude adjustment. Maybe from me.
She crosses her arms. “I need to call the salvage crew.”
“How about I take that off your hands?”
Her gaze sharpens and she studies me for a long moment. Does she think I’m one of those assholes?
“Promise not to give me shit about it?”
I hold up my pinky finger.
To my delight, her brow furrows like she’s concentrating.
“Come on,” I say in a mock singsong that coaxes a smile from her lips. “A pinky promise is an upgrade from a regular promise.”
With a laugh, she links her pinky with mine. Her finger is so slender and smooth wrapped around mine, and even though her skin is cold, the connection sends an electric current zipping beneath my skin.
“I promise I will not give you shit about this,” I say, watching her eyes. “One teeny catch though.”
Her look turns shrewd.
“Double date tomorrow night. Movie and dinner after.”
She sighs, but she’s trying hard not to smile.
I hold her gaze, unwilling to look away.Say yes, damn it.
“Okay.” She gives my pinky a squeeze, then releases it.
Though I want to shout in victory, I manage to open her door for her without spontaneously hugging her or pressing her up against the side of her vehicle and kissing her senseless.
Maybe I’ll get my chance to do both of those on Saturday.
She climbs behind the wheel. When she’s buckled, I carefully shut the door, then step back so she can pull a U-turn. I watch her go, the knot in my chest loosening just a little.
She said yes.
I shoot Bear a text.
We’re on
BEAR:
I was beginning to think you’d lost your touch