Chapter 33
Moving to sit next to me, Harper wrapped her arms around my shoulders. « But it's all going to pay off in the end. »
« And we know your plate is full, don't worry. We're not asking you to abandon your work, » Esme said, walking over to my desk and eyeing all the notes. « We know this is important to you and it's crunch time, we just want to make sure you're taking care of yourself. »
I sank into Harper's hug and lifted the corners of my mouth. « And I appreciate it. »
« So, we thought we'd suggest a break, » Harper said. I craned my neck to look at her incredulously, but before I could speak, she continued. « Not a long one. Just an hour or so. Long enough for the three of us to catch up and then we'll get out of your hair for the night. »
« Besides, it's eight 'o'clock on a Thursday, Lia, and I bet you haven't taken a break other than to eat since you got up this morning. » Esme stared me down. « If you even ate. »
« I did. Three times plus snacks, » I said with reassurance. « Though I may have worked while I ate. »
« See, » Harper said. « You need a short break. One where you're not focused on work. »
« Fine, » I grumbled, giving in.
« Don't sound so excited, » Esme chirped sarcastically, causing me to laugh.
« Sorry, you know I didn't mean it like that. »
Honestly, I probably did need this break. With the way I'd more or less been avoiding everything in my life outside of work lately, I could use the hour to recharge. To hopefully get my mind in a better place.
And when my cell buzzed moments later, I asked Esme to grab it from my desk as she came to join Harper and I on the couch. Which may have been a mistake, seeing as she not-so-subtly glanced at the screen before handing it over.
« I'm sorry… why is Derrick texting you ? »
« Didn't you two split when he left for Los Angeles ? » Harper asked, her interest as keen as Esme's as I snatched the phone away.
« Clearly not, » Esme mused, « considering he wanted to know if the Italian diner by the university was a good place to meet tomorrow. »
Harper's expression filled with amusement. « Oh really ? »
« It's not that big of a deal, » I said, glancing down at the screen to confirm that the text from Derrick had really said that. And it did, somehow prompting a blush to rise on my cheeks. « He's flying in tonight for the game tomorrow and wanted to meet up for lunch. »
« And you said yes ? »
« Why wouldn't I ? I mean, we were friends with benefits, and just because the benefits are gone, that doesn't mean the two of us have to go back to being strangers. »
« So you're saying you guys still talk ? » Harper asked.
« We text, » I admitted. « And there may have been a phone call here or there. »
« Well at least we know that not all your time has gone into your work over the past two weeks, » Esme said slyly, nudging my side playfully. « But couldn't you have picked a guy that, I don't know, still lives in the city to be your distraction. »
I shook my head. « He's not a distraction. It's not like that. But speaking of guys in the city, did I tell you Miles tried to ask me out to drinks the Friday after the trade deadline ? Just the two of us. »
Both of their eyes widened. « As a date ? »
« Not explicitly, but I figured that's what he meant. It was like he knew Derrick was out of the picture, so he tried to jump at his chance. »
« And you said no ? »
« Of course I said no. I'm not interested in Miles, and if he was angling for a date, I wasn't about to lead him on. »
The two of them stared at me with disbelief, clearly not having prepared for all the things they'd missed with me sinking into deep work mode the last few weeks.
« Wow, you've really left us out of the loop when it comes to your love life drama. »
« Trust me, right now, I wish I was out of the loop. All I really want right now is to get through my final round of experiments and get this defense finished. »
« But you're still meeting up with Derrick tomorrow ? » Harper asked, and I confirmed with a shy nod. « Are you sure that's a good idea ? »
Biting the inside of my cheek, I sank back into the couch cushions helplessly. « We'll have to wait and see. »