Level Up by Cathy Yardley

big thing. You know. With Ryan Seacrest and everything."
    "That's great. I knew you'd love New York," he said. "Can we have this conversation in the..."
    "I got the package of stuff you sent," she interrupted him, hiccupping. "Adam, I still love you."
    He rubbed his eyes, feeling his body knot with tension this time, not passion. His heart hurt. "Yeah, well, you're three thousand miles away, Casey, and you made it clear that going to New York was more important than staying here with me, so let's not do this, okay?"
    "I told you. I think...I think I might've made a mistake."
    He glanced guiltily at Tessa, who was picking up her sweater and putting it on with clumsy motions. "Casey, you've obviously been drinking. This is the champagne talking."
    "Tequila, actually."
    "Okay, then it's tequila talking." he couldn't help it, he felt concerned. "Are you all right? Are you safe?"
    "That's so like you, Adam. You always took care of me." She hiccupped, and he heard her break down into tears.
    "Oh...C'mon Casey. It'll be all right. You'll feel much better in the morning."
    "I miss you," she blubbered.
    "I miss you, too," he said. "But it's been a whole year."
    "Oh, God," she said. "Have you found somebody new? Have you moved on?"
    "No, I haven't found anybody new or moved on," he said impatiently.
    "Do you have a woman there? Like, right now?"
    He glanced to see Tessa heading for the hallway. "As a matter of fact..."
    "Oh, God. And now I've gone and ruined it." She started crying even harder.
    "She's my roommate, and a woman I work with," he said. "But seriously, Casey. We've both got to move on, okay? You've got a new life and so do I."
    She snuffled and said something unintelligible.
    "Are you at home?"
    "Ye-yess," she sniffled.
    "Drink some water, take some vitamins, and go to bed, Case," he said. "You'll feel better in the morning."
    "I love you, Adam."
    "Love you too," he said reflexively, and hung up.
    By the time he got back, Tessa was already in her room. He knocked on the door.
    When she opened it, she was wearing Adventure Time  pajamas and a horrified, embarrassed expression. "I'm so sorry about that," she said.
    "I'm not," he protested.
    "Casey...that's your ex, right?" She didn't look at him when she asked it.
    He sighed. "Yeah."
    "Been a year since you guys broke up, huh? That's when I moved in," she said. When he nodded, she sighed. "Still hung up on her?"
    "No," he said, but there must've been something in his voice that made her hold up her hand.
    "It's been a long while for me," she said. "I'm making new friends and hopefully, I'll be making the engineering team. We'll be working together, as well as living together."
    He frowned.
    "Let's face it. Wouldn't that be awkward?" She said, avoiding eye contact. "I mean...would this just be for tonight?"
    "I...honestly, I hadn't thought about it." Now he felt embarrassed.
    "Neither of us did." She grinned. "You are a very good kisser."
    "Hopefully that's not all," he said, starting to reach for her, only to have her shake her head.
    "It's too fast, there are too many variables, and it's potentially a disaster," she said. "We need to sleep it off, and just chalk it up to hormones, the holidays, and forced proximity. Dodged bullet. That kind of thing."
    "Is that what you want?" he said, his voice tight.
    She sighed. "It could affect our jobs. My job," she pointed out. "It's the smart thing. And trust me----I always do the smart thing."
    With that, she nudged him back, and shut the door.
    He retreated to his room, his head swimming. Casey still loved him...but all he could think about was the dark haired girl in the other room. Not just because he'd like to have wild monkey-sex with her--although his body clamored frantically at that enticing thought, and he winced at the sudden blood rush----but because of the sadness in her eyes.
    Would it have been just tonight?
    He wasn't sure. But apparently, when it came to her job--she was.
     
     
    Tessa had managed to avoid Adam the