Jason

I hear his loafers clip across the marble floors outside my office, but the sound no longer sets my teeth on edge. In fact, I’ve become some kind of perverted Pavlovian experiment, my mouth watering in anticipation of whatever Knox has brought for breakfast.

“Morning,” he calls, dropping his laptop case on a chair before I get the chance to ask him in. “You are going to lose your shit when you see what’s in here.” He sets a plain brown bag in front of me.

“Am I supposed to guess what it is?”

“You’ll never guess.” His grin is wicked.

“Beignets.”

“Motherfucker,” he mutters, his shoulders drooping in defeat.

“The nose always knows, man.” I reach in and stuff a glob of sugar-coated dough in my mouth.  “Dude, would it kill you to bring some coffee?” I just laugh when he shoots me the finger. 

Since I started “helping” with the Purina account, we typically spend an hour or so together in the mornings, eating breakfast and shooting the shit. It’s ridiculous, because he needs no help, but we’ve decided Rose needs to be placated until Mr. H returns.

“So did you ever get those financial from Barbara?’ Knox asks. He has powdered sugar on the corner of his mouth, and I have a weird urge to wipe it off with my thumb.

“Yeah. I emailed them to Rose on Monday, and she asked if the two of us could go over them sometime later this week.”

“She’s obsessed with you, man. Like, seriously, she’s got you taking over my job and Barbara’s.”

“I know.” I frown, disturbed by her continued erratic behavior. I know I had visions of teaming with Rose to sabotage Knox’s job when she first arrived, but it was all just talk. I wouldn’t have actually done anything to get him fired.

Right?

“I’d watch my back if I was you-it all seems a little Fatal Attraction to me.”

“Gross. She’s like, old.”

“Well, if she cans me before Mr H gets back, you’re gonna starve to death.” He grabs the empty beignet bag and tosses it into the trashcan.

“I won’t let her can you.”

“Why not?” It’s a serious question. I pause, not sure how to answer.

“I mean…You’re good to have around.” He looks pleased, which warms me and embarrasses me at the same time.

“Hey, you never told me how it went at your parents’ place over the weekend,” he asks.

“It went about the same as always. I made nice with my mom and avoided my dad. Any time the subject of my personal life came up, there was a dramatic change of subject.”

“That sucks, Jase. I’m sorry.”

“I’m used to it.” I shrug.

“That doesn’t make it right.” Knox says heatedly.

“No, but as long as I don’t bring any guys home, they can deal with it.”

“Have you ever?”

“Ever what?”

“Brought a guy home?”

“God, no!” I splutter. “I can’t imagine a faster way to end a relationship.”

“I hope one day you can work things out. I’ve always felt guilty about what happened when you came out to them.” He looks at his lap, avoiding eye contact.

“Guilty? What do you have to feel guilty about?”

“I was the one who encouraged you to talk to them.”

“But I wanted to tell them-you were just being supportive. I had to come out at some point. It was either hear it from me, or hear it through the grapevine.”

“Yeah, but-“

“No buts,” I interrupt. “You were there for me when I needed you. I’ll always remember that.”

“Man, that is so Hallmark Special.”

“Fuck you,” I laugh.

“Seriously,” he says, standing to leave, “I’m going right now to get a scented candle and a hot bath.”

“You do you, girl.”

I’m still laughing as he takes his bag and leaves with a backwards wave.