Chapter 1

Declan's POV

I went to the restroom to deal with the burn and found a message my friend, Jasper Henley, had sent half an hour earlier.

"Don't read too much into what people are saying in the group chat, Declan. Our coworkers just like stirring things up. Don't let it get to you."

I dried my hands and typed back, "I know."

My girlfriend, Lana Sheffield, had texted too, just a minute ago. "That was only to keep things from looking suspicious. Don't overthink it."

I stared at the message, and something heavy settled in my chest.

Three years at this company, and I'd lost count of how many times it had played out the same way. At every team outing, dinner, and meeting, the person beside Lana was always the department manager or Jasper or some other coworker. It was never me.

Even on the rare occasion I managed to stand next to her, she'd find someone to trade spots with, all to avoid raising suspicion. She'd look right through me and brush off anything I said. The other employees picked up on how distant she was with me, and it only made them treat me like I didn't matter.

I turned off my phone and didn't reply.

When I got back to the table, everyone was still eating and chatting like nothing had happened. The only reminder that the thought had even crossed my mind was the blister forming on my hand, still quietly throbbing.

After the dinner wrapped up, a few of my coworkers nudged Jasper toward Lana. "Ms. Sheffield, there's a hurricane tonight and every ride-share app is completely jammed. Jasper shouldn't be heading back by himself. Would you mind giving him a ride?"

Lana didn't refuse. "Sure. I'm heading toward Portway. Anyone else going that direction?"

Her tone was casual, almost indifferent, but her eyes locked straight onto mine.

My throat tightened. Three years ago, I'd been followed and mugged on my way home from work, and the whole thing had left me afraid of being alone outside at night.

When Lana found out, she started making sure we left together every evening. She told me she wanted to make me feel safe.

I opened my mouth. "I'm also—"

"I'll take the rest of the group home." Another coworker cut me off, stepping in front of me and turning to Lana. "Ms. Sheffield, you go ahead and take Jasper."

Lana held my gaze for a few more seconds before looking away. She nodded and turned around.

"Thanks." Then she got in her car and drove off.

When the coworker heard the address I gave, he looked uncomfortable. "Declan, why didn't you say earlier that you're also headed toward Portway? It's already past 1:00 am.

"If I drop you off and then head home, that's going to take me forever. Why don't you just get a ride? There might not be many cars out, but if you wait a little, one will show up."

I opened the app without a word. The estimated wait time was 53 minutes.

Messages trickled into the group chat, with my coworkers checking in and letting each other know they'd gotten home safe. Then someone shifted the topic.

"Has anyone else noticed a certain someone constantly hovering around Ms. Sheffield? Does he seriously not realize she can't stand him?"

"Right? If she hadn't called Jasper over, he would've planted himself right next to her!"

"And when she asked if anyone else was headed the same direction, anyone could tell she just wanted time alone with Jasper. She was being polite. Only a certain someone actually took it seriously."

Jasper's reply was vague. "Don't say that. Ms. Sheffield's just looking out for me because I'm new."

That only made them go harder.

"When a certain new hire first started and got called out by the team lead, he dropped his files everywhere. Ms. Sheffield walked right past without helping him pick up a single one."

"And the fact that she hasn't denied any of it? We all know what that means."

I read through the messages and felt nothing but numbness.

Jasper had transferred here in the first place because he heard I was being singled out. He said he wanted to be there for me.

Now he was everyone's favorite, and all I ever got from him was the same lukewarm advice to stop overthinking things and to stop assuming the worst about our coworkers.

When the rumors started about him and Lana being together, all she told me was to focus on improving myself and stop wasting energy on things that didn't matter.

Things that didn't matter. Maybe that was something only someone who didn't care would say.

The night wind cut cold against my face. I left the group chat and submitted my resignation.

Since I'd already decided to walk away, there was no reason to keep putting myself through this.