Say the Word(29)

I looked at the two of them, sensing already that this budding friendship did not bode well for me. Leaning back against the wall, I let my eyes drift closed and released an extended, unladylike snore loud enough that both their heads snapped in my direction and their conversation instantly came to a halt.

“Sorry,” I said, lifting my hand to cover the large faux yawn splitting my face. “Fell asleep for a minute there.”

“Cute,” Bash commented, grinning across the room at me and throwing in a wink for good measure. I fought off a blush, but couldn’t stop my answering smile.

“Dude, that’s my sister,” Jamie complained. “You seem like a good guy, and you hate the Crimson Tide almost as much as I do…but boundaries, my friend. Boundaries.”

“Jamie,” I protested, feeling my cheeks heat.

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry.” Sebastian laughed, turning back to Jamie. “How about I get us into my father’s private box next season for a game? Will all be forgiven?”

“Dude,” Jamie said, eyes wide. “You make it a championship game, you can call my sister whatever you want. Seriously. Whatever you want.”

“Standing right here,” I noted, glaring at my traitorous twin. “I can hear you, you know.”

“I know, sis,” Jamie said, laughing lightly when he caught sight of my expression. “But we’re talking box seats. Prime real estate. You know I love you, but…don’t make me choose between you and football.” He grimaced at the thought.

“Listen to the man, Lux. That’s a real Sophie’s Choice you’re giving him,” Sebastian added, shaking his head in feigned sadness.

“I hate you both,” I told them, trying very hard not to smile at their teasing.

In actuality, I was thrilled.

Jamie hadn’t looked this happy in a long, long time. I knew a big part of that was due to Sebastian’s presence. Jamie always perked up when he had visitors other than his lame, boring sister, as he so affectionately referred to me. His spirits were high, there was a healthy dose of color in his cheeks, and for a minute I let myself be overtaken by dangerous hopes.

Hopes that he’d recover fully.

Hopes that this latest surgery would also be his last.

Hopes that he’d walk again.

Hopes that he’d be well enough to enjoy those box seats next season with Sebastian.

And, finally, hopes that there’d be more afternoons like this one. That Bash wouldn’t stop visiting. That he’d continue to use that inner light he carried around to ward off the shadows clinging to my life. Because I was pretty sure that Jamie liked him.

And I knew for certain that I did.





Chapter Eleven





Now


“Lux!” Jeanine’s voice clipped out, her order cutting through the air like an arrow aimed straight for my heart. “My office. Now.”

My head snapped away from the computer screen on my desk, turning automatically toward the sound of her voice. The harbinger of my doom. I caught sight of her for only a brief moment before the opaque door closed at her back.

This was it — I was definitely getting fired. Cara would be so pleased.

I didn’t allow myself to think about the fact that Sebastian had made a special trip down to Harding headquarters to report me to my supervisor. That would only make this harder. He’d been in there for less than fifteen minutes — more like fourteen minutes, thirty-seven seconds, but who was counting? — but I figured that was ample time to describe yesterday’s incident in enough detail to justify my dismissal.

I cringed inwardly as I wove through the labyrinth of cubicles toward Jeanine’s office. Outwardly, though, I kept my brow unmarred by worry lines, my shoulders back, and my head held high. I felt the weight of my coworkers’ eyes on me; there was blood in the water, and the sharks were excited. They all watched my journey — some with sympathy, but most with a poorly concealed anticipatory glee at my impending demise.

“Good luck, girlie,” Sasha murmured with practiced solicitude, her forced frown rendered unconvincing by the excited gleam in her eyes. My gaze shot past her to Fae, who rolled her eyes and proceeded to make ridiculous faces and inappropriate hand gestures in Sasha’s direction.

I felt my lips twitch in repressed laughter as I walked the final steps toward my destiny.

The faint smile died when the glass door slid open and Sebastian stepped out of the office. I froze like a startled doe caught in someone’s high-beams, unsure whether I should acknowledge him or walk past without so much as a hi-how’ve-you-been-for-the-last-seven-years-since-I-ripped-your-heart-to-shreds-like-an-old-grocery-list.

Maybe I could just do something casual.

A wave? No. Too friendly.

A smile? Definitely not. Too fake.

A wink? HA! Who was I freaking kidding?

A nod? Hmm.

Actually, a nod sounded perfect. A nod was casual. Indifferent, yet polite. Neutral but direct.

So I nodded at him — just a slight bob of my head to show that I wasn’t being rude, but remained as unruffled by his presence as he evidently was mine. If only.

To my surprise, Sebastian nodded back — and he didn’t even glare at me while he did it! Not that he smiled or anything. But I was going to consider Operation Nod a success.