However her hand turns the knob too shortly and she or he pulls the door open to a tall, good-looking man.

“Sterling?” she asks, sounding shocked.

Chapter Ten

Emma

What’s he doing right here?

I wish to ask, however the phrases received’t come.

Did he neglect how he’d stormed out of our date? How he’d left me hanging and hasn’t answered any calls, texts, or voicemails?

It’s been weeks since I’ve heard from him. How may he presumably assume displaying up at my work after making me really feel just like the worst girlfriend ever for venting about work troubles is a good suggestion?

I’m effectively conscious that I am standing right here looking at him, unable to get my mouth to say any of the phrases which are racing by way of my thoughts.

And the truth that he is standing there on the door of my workplace, smiling like nothing occurred solely confuses me extra.

What the precise heck is occurring proper now?

I blink, nonetheless looking for the best phrases – hell, any phrases to say to him. How can he stand there with the infuriating smile on his good-looking face like he’s anticipating me to tug him into an enormous hug and gush about how completely satisfied I’m that he’s lastly again in my life?

I don’t really feel fortunate that Sterling is again – I really feel indignant that he let me assume I didn’t matter to him, that I used to be so unimportant he may stroll away with no second thought.

“Hello, Emma,” he says, pulling me right into a hug with out my permission. I simply stand there feeling awkward with my arms trapped down at my sides. His cologne invades my nostrils and the way in which he squeezes me feels something however protected. I do not need this. I do not need him. I do not like that he feels he has the best to only stroll in right here after the whole lot that occurred and the way he is handled me as if nothing has modified between us.

I wish to ask him if he’d be okay with me strolling out on a date after which simply displaying up weeks later as if nothing occurred.

I push him away, attempting to behave informal regardless that I really feel indignant, small, and pissed off by his sudden, unwelcome look. “Sterling, what are you doing right here?” I ask, listening to the unwavering falsely shiny tone in my phrases.

Clifton’s chair makes that small squeak of protest it does when he spins towards the door. Figuring out that he is watching solely heightens my discomfort.

Sterling offers me a sheepish grin. “I got here to apologize, babe. I do know I used to be a jerk the opposite night time.”

I’m shocked each by his apology and the truth that he thinks it was solely the opposite night time as an alternative of weeks in the past. However when he continues, I neglect the whole lot however my anger. “However I’ve forgiven you to your conduct.”

“You what?” I ask earlier than I can cease myself.

“I forgive you.” He pushes into my workplace with out ready to be invited and turns towards me, swinging his arms broad like he’s going to provide me one other hug. Now that Sterling’s again is pointed in Clifton’s common route, I can see my accomplice watching occasions unfold with a mischievous grin on his good-looking face. That monster is having fun with this uncomfortable scenario.

However Clifton’s amusement just isn’t the explanation that I really feel a surge of anger. No, I am livid at Sterling’s phrases. He is forgiven me. For what? For speaking to him a couple of man who on the time had me so upset I could not assume straight? The person who occurs to be within the room with us proper now, watching this entire scene with curiosity?

How can Sterling be so blind as to do not forget that I had a dialog with him a couple of coworker that drove me nuts and being in the identical room with a person I work with with out placing two and two collectively? I am unsure if he is dumb or simply does not notice what that whole dialog we had was about outdoors his anger. I am voting for the primary possibility.

I attempt to ignore the truth that Clifton is sitting in his chair watching with a gleeful expression. The one factor he’s lacking is the popcorn to actually get pleasure from this dramatic second.

I hope from the depths of my indignant coronary heart that Clifton does not notice he was the subject of dialog on that catastrophe property.

Sterling’s joyous expression dims, as if I am not responding in any respect how he’d anticipated or hoped I’d. “Aren’t you content to see me?” he asks, clearly missing the cognitive perform to learn the room or the tense feelings hanging within the air.

I am about as completely satisfied to see him as I might be if an alligator climbed up the pipes to come out in the bathroom whereas I used to be relieving myself. After all, I’m not about to inform him that.

He pushes on, oblivious to the which means of my silence. “I’ve forgiven you for less than considering of one other man whereas on our date.” He flashes a fast grin and strikes nearer to me, however I again up a step. “I do know you have been simply venting. I perceive that, however your conduct was impolite and disrespectful. I do know you are able to do higher, and I wish to provide you with one other probability.”

I really feel a sudden surge of warmth bathe my cheeks and I resist the urge to slap him. How dare he? I used to be impolite? I used to be disrespectful? He’s the one who walked out! He ignored me for weeks! He confirmed up unannounced and uninvited at my office, and he has the gall to assert I’m the issue?

I open my mouth to share my ideas, however he cuts me off.

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