can do. I have a week to go over the written dismissal with a lawyer. From what I remember him telling me, I get twelve months severance and will keep what I’ve paid into my pension, if I sign an agreement of non-disclosure. They don’t want me fighting it or talking with anyone.” I rub my hands over my face. I’m so goddamn tired all of a sudden. “Guess I have to figure out if fighting them for wrongful dismissal is worth it.”
“The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time,” she says, and I have no idea what the fuck she’s talking about. It must’ve been clear on my face because she smiles and clarifies, “Pam tells me that whenever things seem too big or too overwhelming for me to overcome. A reminder to break problems into manageable pieces and tackle them, instead of trying to solve them all at once.”
Good point. One I understand on a rational level but am not so sure is easy to implement.
I can’t contain a yawn and immediately Ruby jumps up. “You should get home. Get some sleep.” I push my chair back as well.
“What time are you done?”
She takes a quick glance at the clock before turning back to me, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “Now,” she admits, quickly followed by, “but you should go ahead.”
“Ike took my keys. Says he’ll drive me home when I’m ready to go.” I curb my smile when I see her fidgeting. “And I won’t be ready until I see you home safe. It’s across the road, Ruby,” I enforce, when she opens her mouth to object. “I’m walking you to your door.”
Grumbling, she follows me to the bar where I grab my coat and tell Ike my plans, while Ruby gets her things and says her goodbyes.
Once outside, I drape my arm over her shoulder and tuck her into my side. I tell myself it’s to protect her from the sting of the wind, but the truth is, I like the feel of her body against mine.
When we get to her building, she slips from under my arm and sticks her key in the door. “Thank you for seeing me home,” she says over her shoulder, in an attempt to dismiss me. I choose to ignore her and push the door open for her, following her inside the lobby. Her response is an eye-roll that draws a chuckle from me. I like her even better with her claws out.
“Home is to your front door, Betty Boop.” Her eyes grow big at my use of the name, and I smile in response. “I see you’ve heard it before. You remind me of her. Dark curls, full lips, big eyes and curves that go on forever. It suits you,” I inform her, watching her face soften as I lean in. “I may have had a little crush on her when I was younger.” I put my hand in the small of her back and lead her to the far side of the lobby.
“You remembered,” she says quietly, as we pass the elevator and move into the stairwell.
“Nothing about you is easy to forget.”
Walking down the corridor on her floor, I slip my hand under the mass of hair to cup her neck and when we reach her door, I use it to turn her to face me. She glances up at me through the thick lashes that shield her eyes, but they can’t hide the look of uncertainty. Her hand comes up to rest on my chest, almost without thought, and equally mindless, my head dips down and my lips brush hers. Full, soft, and sweet, and I go in for another taste. This time I stroke the tip of my tongue along the swell of her bottom lip. When I pull back, her mouth is slightly open and her eyes shine with curiosity. Leaning in for the third time, I slant my head a little when my mouth covers hers, slipping my tongue inside. Sweet spicy heat. That’s what she tastes like; the rich flavor of a dark mole poblano.
Her hands clutch my shirt, but other than that her response is surprisingly timid. Still, the tentative touches of her tongue against mine are fuel to my fire. If I don’t put a stop to this now, I may not be able to rein it in. She deserves more than a quick groping against her door, and I need some time to sort my head. She may have had
“The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time,” she says, and I have no idea what the fuck she’s talking about. It must’ve been clear on my face because she smiles and clarifies, “Pam tells me that whenever things seem too big or too overwhelming for me to overcome. A reminder to break problems into manageable pieces and tackle them, instead of trying to solve them all at once.”
Good point. One I understand on a rational level but am not so sure is easy to implement.
I can’t contain a yawn and immediately Ruby jumps up. “You should get home. Get some sleep.” I push my chair back as well.
“What time are you done?”
She takes a quick glance at the clock before turning back to me, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “Now,” she admits, quickly followed by, “but you should go ahead.”
“Ike took my keys. Says he’ll drive me home when I’m ready to go.” I curb my smile when I see her fidgeting. “And I won’t be ready until I see you home safe. It’s across the road, Ruby,” I enforce, when she opens her mouth to object. “I’m walking you to your door.”
Grumbling, she follows me to the bar where I grab my coat and tell Ike my plans, while Ruby gets her things and says her goodbyes.
Once outside, I drape my arm over her shoulder and tuck her into my side. I tell myself it’s to protect her from the sting of the wind, but the truth is, I like the feel of her body against mine.
When we get to her building, she slips from under my arm and sticks her key in the door. “Thank you for seeing me home,” she says over her shoulder, in an attempt to dismiss me. I choose to ignore her and push the door open for her, following her inside the lobby. Her response is an eye-roll that draws a chuckle from me. I like her even better with her claws out.
“Home is to your front door, Betty Boop.” Her eyes grow big at my use of the name, and I smile in response. “I see you’ve heard it before. You remind me of her. Dark curls, full lips, big eyes and curves that go on forever. It suits you,” I inform her, watching her face soften as I lean in. “I may have had a little crush on her when I was younger.” I put my hand in the small of her back and lead her to the far side of the lobby.
“You remembered,” she says quietly, as we pass the elevator and move into the stairwell.
“Nothing about you is easy to forget.”
Walking down the corridor on her floor, I slip my hand under the mass of hair to cup her neck and when we reach her door, I use it to turn her to face me. She glances up at me through the thick lashes that shield her eyes, but they can’t hide the look of uncertainty. Her hand comes up to rest on my chest, almost without thought, and equally mindless, my head dips down and my lips brush hers. Full, soft, and sweet, and I go in for another taste. This time I stroke the tip of my tongue along the swell of her bottom lip. When I pull back, her mouth is slightly open and her eyes shine with curiosity. Leaning in for the third time, I slant my head a little when my mouth covers hers, slipping my tongue inside. Sweet spicy heat. That’s what she tastes like; the rich flavor of a dark mole poblano.
Her hands clutch my shirt, but other than that her response is surprisingly timid. Still, the tentative touches of her tongue against mine are fuel to my fire. If I don’t put a stop to this now, I may not be able to rein it in. She deserves more than a quick groping against her door, and I need some time to sort my head. She may have had
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