Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Have I gone back in time? This is how it felt the first week we shared an office together. Why the extra cold shoulder now?
I get my answer, later, in the restroom. I’m fixing my dress, about to open the stall door and head out to wash my hands when I hear someone talking.
“I just think it’s weird how much time she spends with Hudson.”
“You know they work out together. Dilan says he sees them in the gym all the time.”
“Yeah, he told me. Did you see her following after him like a lost puppy at the holiday party?”
“Oh my gosh, yes! She didn’t even try to hide it. It’s so obvious she’s sleeping with him! Or trying to more like—I doubt he’d go there. He doesn’t seem like the type to make that mistake.”
“Not for someone like her! Are you kidding?”
I feel sick listening to these women gossip about the two of us. Without seeing their faces, I can’t confirm, but I’m pretty sure it’s Makayla and Ramona, Kendra’s best friends. Kendra might have started to thaw out before the holidays, but her friends never came around at all. They still shoot me annoyed looks in the food court and during meetings. If I cross paths with them in the hall or if I happen to forget my place and accidentally speak in their presence, they make it very clear they want nothing to do with me. In return, I’ve given them a wide berth. Now, I’m extra glad I did because clearly, they super suck!
First of all, I wasn’t following Hudson around at the holiday party like a lost puppy! He and I spent most of the night talking to Lucy, and then at one point, Hudson chatted with my mom, which was hilariously funny because she was pretty slack-jawed at how handsome he was and when he walked away, she said, “That man,” all exasperated and with a southern accent for some reason. I wasn’t even offended on behalf of my father because I KNOW, MOM. I KNOW.
Beyond that, well yes, unfortunately the rest is true, more or less. I have spent a lot of time with Hudson and I have opened myself up to gossip and ridicule. While it’s not actually against company policy to date coworkers, it’s still not encouraged, especially considering Hudson is my superior. No matter how we’d gone about it, us being together was going to invite a lot of commentary, good and bad.
Of course these women don’t actually know the truth. They don’t know we only slept together for the first time over the weekend. They’re being nasty and hateful based on nothing but speculation. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make me feel better. They’ve managed to hit their mark beautifully.
Their assessment of how things look between Hudson and me only frays my emotions that much more. Even with everything going on between us, my initial worry isn’t about how complicated these allegations might make my work life; it’s about whether or not this will get back to Hudson. This might affect the promotion he’s so desperate for, and I’d never forgive myself for that. Hudson is the hardest working attorney at this office by a mile.
So I fling my bathroom stall door open and walk directly toward Makayla and Ramona, who, by the time I reach them, have stopped talking and are just staring dumbly at me.
“Excuse me.” I indicate the soap dispenser Makayla is blocking like, You mind?
She opens and closes her mouth, guppy style, but she doesn’t apologize to me. Maybe she’s playing naive about the whole thing.
Makayla looks to Ramona. Ramona looks to Makayla. Makayla laughs, and then they flee the bathroom about as fast as Hudson fled from my apartment.
When they’re gone, I lean over the counter and try not to throw up from all the adrenaline. I can’t look up and meet my own eyes. It’ll zap the last bit of courage I’m working with at the moment, and we’re talking about a microscopic amount here. It could dissolve at any minute and then what? How will I possibly finish this work day?
My eyes cut to my trembling hands gripping the side of the counter. I try to take a deep breath. It helps, so I do it again, slower this time. I concentrate on the sound of air leaving my lungs as my vision softens, then blurs.
After I leave the bathroom, I go straight to my office. The second I walk through the door, I look at Kendra despite every instinct telling me not to. She rolls her eyes, answering every question I needed answered.
I want to go right over and snatch the untouched coffee cup from her desk, but I withstand the urge, instead taking a seat behind my desk and willing myself not to cry. I end up having to YouTube a bunch of cute videos of dogs just to get through the initial ten minutes of panic. But can you imagine? Me breaking down in front of Kendra? I’d rather step on a nail.