Chapter 97: Chapter Twenty-Three: For The Love of Desks-3

It wouldn’t be easy. It might even get nasty. But I’d deal because it was a small price to pay for a real shot at being happy. Hopefully, everyone’s reaction would match Terrence’s. He was grinning from ear to ear, a tad bit smugly, when he saw Luke and I emerge from my apartment holding hands. He didn’t say anything—his face really said it all—but I did hear him sigh in relief just before he closed the passenger door after we climbed into the car. Luke dropped me off by the front entrance since he had to shower and change into clean clothes at his condo first. Maybe I was being extra paranoid but there were definitely more people glancing my direction as I made my way to my desk. Those who were better acquainted with me briefly stopped to ask how I was. The entire building had probably all heard about what went down yesterday and I was wearing a small strip of bandage on my cheek. Office decorum would dictate that it wouldn’t be appropriate to pry but let’s face it, if there was a more complex but perversely effective grape vine, it would be the work place. I just simply smiled and reassured anyone who asked that I was fine before politely excusing myself. Thank God it was a Friday because I probably wouldn’t endure past an eight-hour shift. It helped that my team didn’t have any meetings with Luke for the day because I needed practice keeping my composure together first. With everything so fresh and new and overwhelmingly powerful, I might space out and reach for him in front of everyone. When lunch hour came around, Luke showed up at my desk and joined me at a far corner table in the cafeteria with Jillian and Ryan. The two of them, sitting next to each other, watched us silently as we settled in across from them, their eyes nearly matching in their back and forth pattern between me and Luke. “Please tell me this is the real thing,” Jillian blurted out before noisily slurping down her smoothie. “That tomorrow, the two of you aren’t going to resemble star-crossed lovers pining after each other again.” Ryan sighed and nudged Jillian on the arm. “Just leave them alone.” “I already did that,” Jillian muttered, narrowing her eyes slightly at Luke. “I’m still regretting it.” I grimaced because I didn’t disagree with Jillian—Luke and I did not get here easily—but I also didn’t want to hold our mistakes over our heads. “Jill, I think—” “It’s okay, baby,” Luke reached for my hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. He smiled at Jillian, his expression relaxed. “You’re more than justified in feeling that way, Jill. I’ve got plenty to prove.” “Just to Max, man,” Ryan said, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’ve got nothing to prove to us. Just her.” Jillian glared at Ryan. “You’re too loyal a friend to Mr. H.” Ryan raised a brow at her. “You don’t think you are to Max?” “You’re both great friends to us,” I said before this conversation could escalate to a full-blown argument between them. “And we’re grateful for that.” Ryan flushed slightly, as if the praise made him uncomfortable. “We just want you both to be happy. And if I thought for a second here that Luke’s just messing around, I would physically pry you two apart for two reasons. First, being that Max is a good friend to me and I would never want to see her get hurt. Second, being that Luke could get into a lot of trouble dabbling with an employee and as head of the company’s legal team, I have to counsel him against it.” A hint of smile broke through Jillian’s face and she patted Ryan’s muscular arm—like a bunny patting a wolf. “Okay, you’re forgiven.” Ryan rolled his eyes and mumbled. “Didn’t realize I was asking for forgiveness.” Jillian then turned to Luke, her smile significantly more amped up. “And because I trust my friend to be smart enough to know her own mind, you get a second chance, Mr. H. Which means you’re invited to Max’s birthday party tomorrow night.” And just like that, I remembered what time of the year it was and the haphazard conversations Jillian and I had about it. My birthdays were always very low-key at home—my grandfather would take me out to the local chinese restaurant and give me twenty dollars, which hadn’t changed over the years and the increasing inflation rate. The last few years, when I couldn’t spend my birthdays at home, I barely celebrated except maybe for some chinese take-out and a bag of fortune cookies I would finish all by myself. Luke whipped his head around to face me. He did not look pleased. “It’s your birthday? Tomorrow? And you didn’t say anything?” “It’s actually on Sunday and since I had a lot of things on my mind lately, I haven’t really thought about it,” I said before scowling at Jillian. “And I don’t recall any plans for a party. I thought we were just going out for drinks.” My friend—and current tormentor—pursed her lips and attempted an angelic look of innocence. “I might have mentioned it to Zoe and Alex while we were at his housewarming party. And Zoe might have gotten carried away with turning it into a full-blown party. And Alex might have indulged her. And I might have just spoiled the whole secrecy part of it.” Ryan laughed. “And I might have been surprised if this weren’t so predictable of you, Jill.” If Jillian was the least sorry, it was hard to tell because she was smiling in satisfaction. “Who’s Zoe?” Luke asked, taking his cellphone out. “I need her contact information. I’m going to have to look into the preparations and take over if necessary. I’ll make sure everything’s in order. We’ll start from scratch if we have to.” “Um, no,” I told Luke with a slightly hysterical laugh because he was seriously too much with that statement. “Zoe Abrams will, in high heels, walk over the dead body of whoever gets in the way of her party-planning.” Luke scratched his head. “Zoe Abrams—as in the Pirates’ newest team president?” “Yup,” Jillian said. “Max has friends in other high places, you know? I think she was rooting for Max and Alex before.” “Jill.” “Don’t.” Ryan and I looked at each other after speaking at the same time and just sighed. Jillian didn’t look the least remorseful. Luke’s already thunderous expression darkened even more, his hand gripping my own tightly. “I think I need some coffee for the afternoon,” Ryan said, getting up from his seat and grabbing his tray with one hand and Jillian’s elbow with the other. “And Jill could definitely use one too, right Jill?” “But I’m not done eating yet.” Jillian tried to take another bite of her sandwich even as Ryan was practically hauling her out of her seat. The rest of her protest got lost in a mouthful of turkey. “I’ll buy you another sandwich,” Ryan said before turning to us with an apologetic smile. “See you guys later.” The table was quiet after the two left.