Chapter 7

The next day, I avoided Jake like my life depended on it, doing my best to keep our conversations strictly work-related.

Jake, well. He was not oblivious about it either. He then sent me a text.

[Jake: Are you avoiding me, Miss Johnson?]

He was straight to the point. God, he really was a kid.

I drafted my subsequent response with extreme care.

[Avery: I'm not avoiding you. I just don't think it's a good idea to be seen together so often at work, that's all.]

There was no response for a while.

[Jake: Alright.]

I snuck a glance back.

Jake's head was bowed, and the expression on his face was unclear. His entire body seemed to wilt, almost sagging onto the floor.

I felt pretty bad, all things considered.

True to his word, Jake kept his distance after that. He no longer referred to me as Miss Johnson. Instead, he called me Avery like everyone else did.

Well, good effort, I suppose. That was nice.

…

One day, I stayed late at work again. I absent-mindedly walked to the elevator in my fatigue until I realized Jake was there too.

The tension thickened steadily by the second.

The elevator doors opened, and we walked in, one after the other.

There was a lot of space in the elevator, yet Jake stood at the corner furthest from me. He fidgeted, looking a little helpless. I guess he took my message back then pretty seriously.

I coughed, trying to think of something to say.

Jake beat me to it. "Are we off work now?"

I stared at him while nodding slightly.

Jake came closer. I was instantly hit with a wave of testosterone, which flooded my senses.

He looked down at me with sparkling eyes, lowering his voice. "Can I get closer to you now, Miss Johnson?"