Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(74)

“Okay,” Marco said, getting his tape measure. He started measuring as he talked to Sean. “Professional jacket for missus, yes?”

“Yes. We need elegant and ladylike, but keep her young.”

“Of course,” Marco said in indignation. He measured around Krista’s waist, then her bust. She felt her face going a furious shade of red at the thought of her boobs being measured in front of a guy. Sean noticed and smiled that secret smile before a flash of pain crossed his face. He looked away.

“Pants or skirt?” the tailor asked.

Sean looked to Krista. “I would say skirt, but would that make you uncomfortable, Geegee?”

“No. Skirt is fine.”

Marco barely paused in his measuring, whipping the tape measure around like it was a sword. When done, it was time to talk color.

“Black,” Krista said without hesitation.

“You have a black suit,” Sean countered. “Let’s go for something not so overdone.”

“Black goes with everything, looks more sophisticated, and it never goes out of style.”

“The cut will make it look sophisticated—“

“My suits are classic!” Marco retorted with his familiar indignation.

Sean paused to suppress a smile before he said, “Stop being so boring. Live a little.”

“Fine, what did you have in mind?”

“How about cream?”

“I would spill something on it. Plus, I ride Muni. I couldn’t get it here unscathed.”

“True. How about powder blue?”

“Who am I, Myrtle? No way.”

“Who’s—never mind. How about light gray?”

Before Krista could say no, the tailor had fabric swatches fanned in his hand.

“Light gray, pink pin-stripe, no?” Marco asked.

Krista couldn’t think of anything uglier, which must have showed on her face, because Sean got up and took two steps closer to see.

With his proximity came his heat. And his smell. She breathed it in, remembering. Unable to help flipping through her Rolodex of memories and getting stuck on one where they were wrapped up in a blanket with her curled in his lap, drinking a cup of coffee and looking out at the waves. They’d only had a couple days, but they had a really good couple days.

With a lump in her throat, Krista nodded at Marco just to get out of this room. Sean caught her eye, the inquisitiveness in his gaze turned focused, like a magnifying glass in the sun. The world dimmed to just him and her. Remembering together, watching the scenes, exploring the feelings. Exploring each other.

A pain so acute she couldn’t breathe suffocated her. It felt like her breast plate was being cracked in half and then stomped on. She ripped her eyes away, her whole body trembling with suppressed emotion.

“Thursday afternoon, earliest,” Marco said as he cut through their moment by handing Sean some papers. “But you pay rush fee.”

When Sean was occupied over the hand-written bill, Krista squeezed out beyond the counter and waited by the door. She needed to avoid Sean’s gaze at all costs. Tears were extremely close to peeping through, and she was supposed to be indifferent to this breakup scene, not desolate.

As she stood waiting, looking in rapt interest at a stand of thread, she tried to get herself under control. And she would have, too, but the stupid room was pint-sized and Sean’s stupid smell was so damn strong that it permeated all available space, crushing her resolve to stay unaffected; filling her up with a pain she couldn’t believe wasn’t killing her.

Krista had no choice but to make a hasty exit.

“Ready?” Sean asked quietly as he stepped out beside her.

Krista gave him an affirmative head bob, blinking furiously to try and clear her glassy eyes. One tear, uncaught, wobbled out from under lashes, and streaked down her cheek.

Sean’s eyes caught it, and followed its progress, his eyes clouding with pain.

“So you go there often, then?” she said as she swiped her hand across her face quickly. Her voice was upbeat, which hopefully hid the tremor.

“Every time I need a new power suit, yeah. Otherwise I buy designer off the rack and get it tailored at whatever store I buy from. Gotta look the part, you know?”

“All the world’s a stage.”

“Precisely. And I encourage you to remember that on Friday. You are playing a part to our clients. You are the Lead Researcher, which means you need to have decorum and professionalism when you answer questions.”

“Is that why the sudden title? So John can convince me to grow up?”

Sean laughed, “Exactly so.”

“Right. Well…I guess I’ll you see you in there.” Krista stepped away. Sean nodded with a solemn expression, but he let her escape.

~*~*~*~

In the small conference room after the meeting with John, Sean watched Krista hurry away with Marcus, all her materials clutched within her arms. Suddenly deflated, he leaned against the wall. It felt like he had a gaping hole in his chest. He wished it was manly to admit it.

That thought reminded him of Krista’s take on manly rules, and he laughed.

“What is it?” Ray asked, staying behind as everyone else left the room, John included.

Sean shook his head. He hadn’t told Ray about the split. He didn’t want to admit it out loud yet.