Layers(21)

She’s just doing her job! I frown from afar.

“So, Hayley, see you tonight?” his voice soft and calm again.

“See you tonight, Daniel.” I hang up. Try not to decapitate anyone at work, psycho! I turn the music up to try to stop myself from thinking about him, again, and return to my sketching.

“Honey, I’m home, hide the milkman.” Tasha’s cheerful voice comes from the entry hall. I look up at the window, and it’s dark already. How long was I disconnected in here?

“What time is it?” I ask Tasha as I join her in the living room.

“Seven. What have you been up to, Missy?”

If you only knew …

“I got it,” she hugs me, her smile broad.

“I am so happy for you,” I mirror her contagious smile, admiring the way her gray suit compliments her. “What position is it? When do you start?”

“Wine?” she asks heading toward the kitchen, I follow her bouncy, silky ponytail.

“No, I’m driving later,” I mutter casually.

“Oh really? Where to, exactly?” She turns to face me, wearing an inquisitive/teasing expression.

“Watch a movie … with Daniel,” I say, trying to sound casual, knowing this will have to be much elaborated shortly.

Her lips pull up into an I-knew-it smug smile. “It’ll be in their R&D department as a project manager.” Her smile becomes so sincere it makes me sigh in contentment, utterly happy for her.

“It’s the position you wanted. That’s so great. And when do you start?”

“Tomorrow.” She grins wider and raises her wine glass as she does.

“To you, dear.” I salute back.

“I need you to promise me one thing, Hales,” she says in a coaxing tone.

“Anything for you, as long as I can and it’s legal.” I nod assurance. “Or as long as we can hide the evidence.”

She smiles.

“There’s a fundraising event this Friday, and since I don’t know anyone at the company yet, and I’d much rather not bring a date … to keep my options open, you know.” She winks at me and continues, “Can you be my plus one?”

Two invitations to the same event in less than a few hours. Boy, do I feel popular. “What about Ian?” I try.

“Already tried. He has a family thing he can’t get out of.”

I bite my lip, considering what to tell her.

“What is it, Hales? Spill it.” Her eyes search mine.

“I think I’m going to be Daniel’s plus one at that event,” I answer in a low, tentative voice. And now is the time to start elaborating.

“You think?” Her eyes zoom in on mine, assessing. I bob my head.

“Holy f**k, seriously?”

Wait till you see the dress. “What happened to holy heavens, Miss Taylor?”

“Come on Hales, this totally requires a holy f**k. After all, he isn’t exactly the dating type, at least according to gossips-R-us.” We both laugh.

As our laughs subside I take a deep breath and say, “Follow me. There’s something I need to show you.”

“What’s that? You secretive little thing.”

I grin at her with a cryptic look and lead her to my bedroom.

“Holy mother of f**k!” she exclaims when I show her the dress, making me giggle louder. “Oh no, Miss Taylor, that language again. Do you want me to make you wash that filthy little mouth out with soap?”

Disregarding me, she starts a third-degree interrogation. I fill her in, though I leave out the parts that make me feel bad about myself, about Daniel. I really don’t feel like getting into that just before meeting him again.

“So you slept with him, you s …”

“Hey.” I cut her off before she continues, feigning a threatening stare that she dismisses with an impish smile.

“I was going to say super lucky …” She blinks twice, utterly amused. I snort out a short giggle, rolling my eyes.

“Super lucky slut,” she murmurs and we both break into laughter.

As our elated gasps finally lessen, Tasha probes, “And?”

I cock my head questioningly.

“How was it?” she asks, the joy in her eyes still intact.

I smirk.

“That good?” Her lips stretch to mirror mine.

“Oh, so much better …”





Chapter 9: Repetitive Emotional Stress Injury


Bathed, relaxed and perfumed I get dressed, wearing my worn blue jeans and a baby pink top. I pick up my leather riding jacket and check out the address Daniel sent me earlier today. He forgot to mention the house number so I call him. Sounding busy, he just gives me the number and is gone. My navigator shows that the ride shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes. Twenty minutes? It took Daniel much less than ten minutes to reach my house yesterday. Well, guess that makes sense given his car and the way he drives.




“I’m leaving.” I poke my head into Tasha’s room; she steps over to hug me.

Resting her palm above my heart, she says in a serious, caring and overly dramatic voice, “Keep this whole, Hales. Please do, for me.”

She knows me too well. I hug her tight.

“I’ll do my best.” I nod reassuringly, blow her an airy kiss and turn toward the door. “He might be the divine being of Stark Software or not, I really don’t care, but I will still kick his butt if he hurts you,” she calls after me. I laugh and lock the door as I go.