Say You Still Love Me(26)

Gus’s mouth curves in a thoughtful frown. “And was this Kyle Miller a good friend of yours?”

“Yeah.” For a while, anyway.

“Decent guy?”

“He was.” I feel my cheeks turning pink and I’m mortified. I can’t remember the last time just talking about a guy made me blush and it’s happening in front of our security guard. I need to get back upstairs and to work, like the executive I am. “So does that name sound at all familiar? Can you maybe check your computer?”

Gus’s chair creaks as he leans his girth back in it. “Don’t think I need to check the computer.”

“No . . . ?” I hold my breath as I search Gus’s face, looking for a flicker of recognition.

“Nope. ’Cause I just hired a guy named Kyle with dark hair and pretty golden eyes.”

My jaw drops as a wave of shock rushes through me. “You what?” Kyle’s going to be a security guard in my building? I’m going to see him every day?

Gus’s deep laugh carries through the cavernous lobby. “Ivan’s moving to Chicago, so I needed a new guard. Head office gave me a couple guys to choose from. I liked Kyle best. He’s in training now. Starts Monday.” Gus frowns. “Except, his last name isn’t Miller. It’s Stewart.”

Wait. “Stewart?” My frown matches his. “Maybe it’s not the same Kyle, then.” As quickly as the shock flowed through me, a wave of disappointment barrels in.

“Only one way to find out.” Gus juts his chin somewhere behind me.

I whip my head around so fast, a painful snap explodes in my neck. But I barely notice the burn of heat that follows, focused on the two uniformed men strolling side-by-side toward us. Ivan on the left.

And Kyle Stewart.

I inhale sharply.

It is my Kyle.

My stomach clenches as I watch him approach, much like it did that first time so many years ago. He’s changed so much, and yet there’s no mistaking him. He still moves with that casual, unbothered swagger. The punkish two-inch Fauxhawk has been replaced by a more mature and stylish cut, though his thick mane of chestnut-brown hair still has volume on top. He’s grown taller, surpassing me by a few inches, even in my heels.

It’s his body that has changed the most, filled out by weight and muscle in the best possible ways, his shoulders broad and strong but not bulky, his arms corded with muscle but not in an overdone way. His jaw is now hard and chiseled. His lip ring is gone, but the tattoo on his arm has grown, the ink sprawling over his forearm.

Those beautiful golden irises with rings of green, they haven’t changed a bit. And they’re locked on me.

“Oh my God! Kyle!” I burst out in a near-squeal, shocking both myself and Ivan, by the wide-eyed look he gives me. I clear my throat and add with a touch more dignity, “Long time, no see.”

“Hey.” Kyle’s chest lifts with a deep breath as he watches me evenly. He doesn’t make a move forward. Is it just surprise to see me here that holds him back?

“Seems like you already have a friend in the building,” Gus calls out.

“Looks like it . . .” A slight frown pulls his brows together. “Sarah, right?”

“What? Oh, right. Funny.” I laugh, waiting for his face to crack with a smile.

The moment drags on.

“Uh . . . Piper,” I stammer, my excitement deflating instantly. “From Camp Wawa?” You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t look that different. And there’s no way I meant that little to him that he’s forgotten about me.

Is there?

I pause, waiting for a hint of recognition. “You know . . . turtles?” Really, Piper? Of all the things you could use to try to jog his memory . . . I peer into those eyes of his again, in search of the youthful, curious spark I remember. And realize that it’s missing.

So is the friendliness.

“Right. So . . . you work here?” he finally asks, calm and collected. Sounding every bit the stranger to me.

“Yeah. This is my company. I mean, my dad’s company, but I’ll be taking over one day.” I jab a thumb toward the “Calloway Group” emblem on the wall. Did that sound obnoxious?

Kyle’s gaze drifts to the sign. “That’s why that name seemed familiar,” he murmurs more to himself.

Oh my God. Kyle truly has forgotten me.

The disappointment that comes with that realization is staggering. That I could have meant so little to him . . . My chest aches.

Silence lingers as Kyle and I face off against each other, with Gus and Ivan an ever-attentive audience to this painfully awkward reunion.

An elevator dings and voices sound, snapping me out of my trance. “I have a meeting to get to,” I lie, feeling my face burn. Yeah, a meeting with myself, to lick my ego’s wounds. Collecting my tray of coffees from the counter, I clear my voice. “Good luck with the new job. I’m sure you’ll like working with Gus.” I don’t wait for an answer, heading for the bank of elevators, the speedy click of my heels a hollow echo. I jab at the button several times, urging it to open quickly so I can disappear.

Still, I can’t help but steal a glance back.

Ivan and Gus are discussing something on a clipboard and Kyle seems to be listening, his back to me. I’ll admit, he makes that dowdy security guard uniform look good, as if it were customized specifically for his body.