“Are you…are you firing me?” she squeaked at Aaron, wracking her brain for any mistakes she might’ve made around the office lately. She came up blank. As with everything else in her life, she was meticulous about her work, painstaking, even…
“What?” Aaron laughed. “No, of course not. I just mean I’m quitting Acray-Sys soon.”
“What?!”
He nodded, looking eager. “I’ve got something else lined up. Starts pretty soon. I can’t wait.”
Lucy was stunned. She’d had no idea Aaron was even looking for another position. And now he said he’d landed one? He was leaving?
Sheesh, what was going to be the point of her even coming to work anymore? Aside from the generous paycheck she so desperately needed—but which still paled in comparison to the reward of seeing Aaron’s gorgeous face smiling at her every day.
Oh no, this is awful! she thought, and sank an inch against her desk. The total depth of her dejection must’ve shown, though, because now Aaron was looking at her funny. “O-oh, that’s great!” she blurted, straightening up again. “Congratulations!”
His smile reappeared, like the sun breaking through clouds. “Thanks.”
“Where are you going?” she wondered.
“A buddy of mine’s opening up a gastro pub nearby. I’m going to tend bar for him.”
Lucy blinked, unsure she’d heard him correctly. “You’re quitting…to go be a bartender?”
But Aaron grinned at her like he’d just won the lottery. “Yeah, isn’t it great? I tended bar all through college, and I really liked it. I’ve always thought about going back to it. Now, I finally can.”
Lucy gathered her brows and examined him curiously, still not quite understanding what was going on here. She could see he was telling her the truth, though, and how genuinely thrilled he seemed about switching careers. In the end, she decided, that was all that really mattered. If Aaron was happy, then so was she.
She grinned back at him and said, “Well, good luck. I hope it works out for you.”
“Thanks,” he said again. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but the higher-ups asked me to keep it under wraps for the time being. I guess they don’t want any rumors starting just yet, about who might be taking over my department when I leave.” He rolled his eyes.
“I understand.” And then she felt her heart twist painfully, thinking of someone else trying to take Aaron’s place here. Someone else sitting behind his desk while she sat in front of it, going over his schedule for the day or taking notes. No matter who it ended up being, it wouldn’t be the same. Not even close. With a pang of dismay, she felt tears sting the corners of her eyes. Ugh, don’t make a spectacle of yourself, Lucinda! she yelled at herself. But then she decided there was no shame in telling Aaron at least one thing. Looking into his eyes, she said softly, “I’ll miss you.”
“Aw,” he tilted his head. “For what it’s worth, I feel the same way, Lucy.”
“Y-you do?”
“Yeah, of course. You’re great. You’re the best.”
Her chest tickled with warmth. “Oh. You’re great, too,” she gushed. “I’ve loved being under you. I mean, working under you.” Ahhhh! “I’ve loved working for you!”
He chuckled and gave her a playful cuff on the shoulder. “See what I’m talking about? You crack me up. I’m going to miss that.”
“How long do you have left here?” she asked, dreading the answer.
“Three weeks.”
Three weeks! A sudden panic gripped Lucy’s heart. If she ever wanted to let Aaron know how she felt about him, time was literally running out now. And if he was really resigning, well then...propriety didn’t matter much anymore, did it? She looked up into his beautiful face, realizing she might not get too many other chances like this. Screwing up her courage, she spouted out, “So, um, about Jessica’s party…”
That faint frown of confusion resettled on his face. “Yeah?” he said.
She glanced at the postcard still in her grip. Even though it was a little creased and sweaty now, she shoved it toward him with a shaking hand. “It starts at ten. I know that’s late, but…”
He took the card and looked it over. Then he looked at her. A smile gradually spread across his mouth. “No, it’s perfect,” he said. “I’d love to come.”
A rush of surprised excitement rippled over Lucy’s skin. “Really?”
“Yeah, I’m taking Ava to the theater that night, but after it lets out, we’ll definitely drop by for a minute and say hello. I’d like to wish Jessica good luck with everything.”
Lucy’s smile froze on her face. She blinked. “Ava?”
“Yeah, you remember her, right? I introduced you when she came in to pick me up for dinner a while ago?”
Lucy did remember. Ava had been one of Aaron’s most recent dates. One of the few blondes she’d ever seen him go out with. “Yeah, I remember. I’m just not used to ever hearing any of your dates’ names more than once, I guess.”
Yikes. Lucy cringed inside.Way to make him sound like a total playboy.
Thankfully, Aaron just laughed this off and said, “No, I guess not, huh? Ava’s a little different, though.” He smiled crookedly, and Lucy’s heart plummeted.
All those girls and he’d finally found one he wanted to see again. Someone “different.” Well, that just figured.
What had she been thinking, asking him to Jessica’s party? Now she wanted to snatch the postcard out of his hand and pretend she’d never mentioned it.
But it was
