Crushed (Crystal Brook Billionaires) (44 page)

I open my mouth to respond, though I don’t know quite what to say. Thank you? I wait too long to speak because he’s climbing out of the car. I do the same, following him through the front door and down the hall.

Dana is the only one in the outer office. She looks up from her computer when we walk in. Mr. Mulroney heads for his office and slams the door behind himself. I stand in the outer doorway, staring at the wood he’s just disappeared behind.

“Where are his bags?”

I twitch at the startling sound of her voice. “Huh?”

“His bags.”

“In the car,” I mumble.

“Oh.” She goes back to her work.

I still don’t move. I
can’t
move. I can’t think. Can’t comprehend or make any sense of the last two hours.

All I can do is stand there and observe the swirling hurricane that is my life.

I
chop the carrots faster, intent on getting the pieces as small as possible. Poppy folk music drifts from the living room, the song’s cheesy chorus annoying me for the third time.

Everything has been annoying me tonight.

“Watch it,” Crystal says from next to me. “Are you trying to cut off a finger?”

“Yes.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Here.” I slide the cutting board down the counter to her. She takes it and pushes the carrots into the frying pan. They mix in with the onions there and sizzle, letting off a bit of smoke.

I wonder what Mr. Mulroney is doing for dinner. Does he eat alone at his home, or is every meal spent out in the company of a woman? If so, is it a different woman each night, or does he go out with each of them a few times? And when was the last time he had a girlfriend? Suppose he’s
never
had one.

Stop thinking about him.

But I can’t.

He wasn’t in the office today. Since it’s Friday, his absence was typical, of course, and the other three assistants thought nothing of it. Chuck and Daniel left early like they often do while Dana and I waited till five to slip out.

But what will happen on Monday? Mr. Mulroney said my job was secure no matter what, but can he be counted on to be good to his promises? I shot him down — and not for the first time. Surely he’s not used to women saying no to him. His ego must be at least slightly bruised.

Furthermore, what will it be like between us now?

Even more difficult, no doubt.

I close my eyes and lean my back against the wall.
I can’t believe I kissed a man whose first name I don’t even use. This is like something out of a porno.

“Sydney,” Crystal says.

I open my eyes back up. She stares at me, the spatula hovering in her hand above the stove. “Are you okay?”

“I made out with Mr. Mulroney.”

Her mouth drops open. “Shut up!”

“I wish I could shut my whore lips. Ugh!” I rake my fingers over my face.

“So there was tongue?”

“How is that important?”

“You
kissed
him in the office?”

“No. At the water cooler.”

Somehow her eyes grow even bigger. “What?!”

“Kidding,” I dryly say.

I push off from the counter and go to the fridge to grab a bottle of sparkling water. “It happened at Bronson Caves.”

“When?”

“Yesterday afternoon.” I wave the bottle around while I talk. “He came back from his trip early and told this lie saying he needed to go back to the airport to pick up some bags he left there. He said he needed my help but get this. Once we got in the car, he told me there were no bags. He said he wanted to apologize to me for the way he’s been acting since I started there.”

Crystal coos. “Aw, that’s so sweet!”

I crinkle my face in disgust. “But that was another lie. I know he hasn’t just been rude to me. His other three assistants practically hate him. He’s a dick to everyone. He just wanted to get me alone so he could make another pass at me. The pan is burning.”

“Oh!” Crystal turns around and stirs the vegetables. “Are you sure it was a lie? Everyone complains about their boss. He may not be as mean to the others as you think.”

“I’m not a dumbass, Crystal.”

“I’m not suggesting that. Relax.”

“Sorry.” I sigh and settle down on one of the stools.

Eryk comes in from his bedroom, his shoulders sagging and a frown on his face.

“What’s wrong with
you?”
Crystal asks.

He settles on the stool next to me. “I feel like shit. I worked lunch today and had to get up at, like, ten.”

Crystal and I both laugh.

“Have you ever actually seen a sunrise?” I ask him.

Crystal speaks up. “Only when he’s stumbling home from the night before.”

Eryk sticks his tongue out. “Oh,
haha.
You two think you’re superwomen because you get up before noon every day. And everyone’s taken a walk of shame, including you.” He looks pointedly at Crystal.

“Sydney kissed her boss,” she says.

Eryk screams and clutches my shoulder. “You dirty slut!”

I gasp. “Crystal! That’s not what we were talking about.”

She shrugs. “I had to divert attention from myself somehow.”

“When?” Eryk demands, his hands still on me. “Where?”

Crystal grabs the big pot and begins to fill it with water at the sink. “Don’t forget who and why.”

“Yesterday at Bronson Caves.”

“Hold on,” he holds his palm out, signaling me to stop. “You went on a date with your boss.”

“No,” I quickly say. “We were at work. Kind of.”

Crystal giggles. “He picked her up and they skipped out.”

“That sounds like a date,” Eryk says. “Actually, it sounds better than any date I’ve been on.”

“Oh, come on!” I slam my hand on the counter. “That is not a date!”

Eryk rolls his eyes. “It’s more of a date than sneaking away to have coffee with your ex-boyfriend is.”

“I’m going to ignore that.”

“Sydney,” Crystal says, turning to me. “It sounds like this guy might like you.”

My heart lifts a little at the statement, but I quickly stomp it down. “No. There’s no way. Remember everything else I told you? You know, about the women?”

“Those women were before you.”

I stare down at my hands, hating how much I want to believe what she’s saying.

Eryk giggles. “Did you tell Brendan he doesn’t have a chance with you anymore now that you’re screwing your boss?”

I shoot him a look. “I didn’t screw Mr. Mulroney.”

“Everyone goes to Bronson Caves to screw.”

“Really?” Crystal asks and I see her making a mental note.

“No. I was just trying to get a confession out of her.”

“We didn’t screw,” I say, louder this time.

Eryk peers intently at me. “So tell us what happened.”

I drop my face on my crossed arms. “Mr. Mulroney and I just kissed.”

“You know, it’s kinda hot that you still call him Mr. Mulroney. I bet he likes that. Do you even know his first name?”

“Stop making fun of me,” I snap. “Of course I know his name. It’s Simon.”

“Ooh, I like that. It’s sexy but boyish at the same time.”

“Ew,” Crystal says. “Nothing should be sexy
and
boyish at the same time.”

Eryk puts his palm towards her to signify he’s not listening. “Did you write it all over your diary?” he asks, looking at me.

“Give her a break, Eryk,” Crystal says.

He laughs and pats me on the head. “I’m just excited! Come on! When was the last time
you
made out with your boss?”

Crystal makes a disgusted face. “My boss isn’t one tenth as attractive as Sydney’s.”

Eryk points at her. “Exactly. Most people aren’t that lucky. This is big.”

“I pushed him off me,” I say. “I told him I wasn’t going to do it.”

Eryk shakes his head. “Do you want to
never
have sex again? That’s where you’re headed, you know. You may as well join a convent now.”

I don’t answer.

“I’m making pasta,” Crystal says, changing the subject after a short silence.

“I’m not doing carbs,” Eryk answers. “I have to make sure I can fit in my dress next week.”

“You’re not doing carbs. You’re not doing dairy. You’re not doing meat. You’re not doing citrus. What
are
you eating? Carrot sticks?”

“That and celery.”

Crystal rolls her eyes.

“I’ll eat his,” I say. “I need the extra comfort food.” From the edge of the counter, my phone buzzes.

Eryk cocks an eyebrow. “Mr. Mulroney needing some copies made?”

“Copies made?” I ask, half wishing it is — but knowing it’s not — my boss.

“I saw it in a porno last week.”

“Ugh. So it’s not just me. This does feel like a bad porno.”

“You mean a good one.”

“By the way,” Crystal says, looking at Eryk. “Can you keep those turned down a bit?”

I swipe open my phone and read the text. “It’s Brendan.”

“Of course it is,” Eryk says, trying to grab my phone. “His radar is going off because his turf is being stepped on. What does he want?”

“Nothing.” I snatch it away and give him the evil eye.

Eryk furrows his eyebrows. “He sent you a blank text message? Why can’t you tell me what he said?”

“Because you’re just going to talk shit.”

Eryk scoffs and slides off the stool. “I’m going for a run.”

He goes into his bedroom to change and Crystal pours the pasta into the colander in the sink. “What
does
Brendan want?” she quietly asks.

“He invited me to come to Venice Beach tomorrow,” I just as quietly answer.

“Are you going to?”

“I don’t really have any reason not to.” I stand up and pull plates and silverware from the cabinet. “What do you think of him?”

“Which one?”

“Brendan. Who else? You don’t know You-Know-Who.”

“I liked him. Why? Are you thinking of getting back with him?”

I study the forks in my hand. “No. I mean, he lives on the other side of the country. And we did the long distance thing. It doesn’t work for me.”

“Plus, you’re into your boss.”

I look up at my friend. “I can handle that.”

“If you mean you can control your feelings around him, Sydney, it’s pretty obvious you can’t.”

My face heats up. “I had one mishap. And he lured me away from the office. He got me alone and tricked me.”

“Hey, I’m not judging you. I think you should do whatever makes you happy. It really is that simple.”

I study her face. “There’s only one problem.”

“What?”

“Figuring out what makes me happy is the hardest part.”

She smirks. “Tell me about it.”

*

Venice Beach is close to an hour drive from my apartment. Even though Brendan visited me a few times in L.A. while we were dating, we never went to his cousin’s place. It’s a town house on an impressively nice street half a block down from the water. I park in front of it and head up the drive.

Brendan answers the door, a smile on his face. “Hey, come on in.”

“Thanks.”

He ushers me past him and into a living room. With two futons for seating and a punching bag hanging in the corner, the main area betrays the fact the house is inhabited solely by men. The giant tower of video games doesn’t help much.

“What are you up to?” I ask, hooking my hands on my hips.

“Just hanging out. You want anything to drink?”

“Sure. I’ll have some water.”

He walks across the living room and through another door, through which a refrigerator and small table are visible. Sounds of ice clinking float from the kitchen.

“Where’s your cousin?” I ask.

Brendan’s voice is muffled. “He works on Saturdays.”

“Oh.”

So it’s just the two of us. Alone. In a house.

Did I mention alone?

Brendan comes back with a glass of water for me. “Do you want to sit on the patio? It’s really nice.”

“Okay.”

I follow him through the kitchen and out onto a veranda overlooking a small yard. There’s a kiddie pool and a coiled up hose on the grass. Underneath the overhanging roof sits a few lawn chairs.

I take a seat and Brendan settles down right next to me. The hairs on my arm stand up. His presence makes me feel good and bad at the same time. Maybe only bad because I’m resisting just how good he makes me feel.

I unhook my sunglasses from the neck of my tank top and slip them on in an effort to put a little bit of space between us. My fingers are buzzing and there’s a slight ache spreading through me.

What would happen if I just went for it and tried to hook up with Brendan again? The chemistry still seems to be there — at least on my end.

But it would never work out. He’s going home at the end of the summer.

So just bang him.

Wow. I don’t know where that last thought came from. I’ve never been one for casual sex. It’s because of what happened Thursday, I know it. Making out with a hot boss is enough to get even the most chaste person riled up. Unfortunately, the desire that encounter left me with seems to be making me crazy as well. I’m thinking of resorting to flat out using Brendan in order to satiate this extreme horniness.

“I had a good time Wednesday,” he says.

I take a gulp of water. “Yeah?”

He bobs his head. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since. It’s been kind of lonely here.” He looks down at his hands. “To tell you the truth, I’m not so sure why I even came here.”

My throat feels like there’s a rock in it. I clear it before speaking. “Why
did
you come here? Or why did you think you did?”

“I told myself I wanted to get away from home for a while.” He looks up and across the yard. “But maybe that’s not true.”

My fingers tighten around the sweating water glass. “Is there another reason?” I croak.

He laughs. “Come on, Sydney. It’s you.” His voice falls to a whisper. “I miss you a lot.”

I lick my lips. “I’ve missed you too.”

His face lights up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I can’t leave it there. I can’t lead him on. “But we broke up because the long distance thing didn’t work for us.”

I’m stating the obvious, but maybe he needs a reminder.