“Girl, Isabella was texting us earlier and she thinks you should totally bang him.”
“What? No. Were you guys in a group text without me?”
“Girl, you were in the group text too. You just didn’t respond.”
“What?” I pulled out my phone and realized I had a bunch of missed text messages. “Okay. I guess I didn’t see these.”
“Yeah, because you were too busy getting your flirt on with your boss.”
“I was not flirting with him. I was working.”
“Uh-huh. Working real hard on your back, huh?”
“Emma. Really?”
“What?” She giggled. “If it’s true, it’s true.”
“It’s not true,” I shook my head. “And that’s actually very sexist.”
“Oh my gosh. Seriously, Abby?”
“What?” I started laughing. “Okay. That was kind of funny, but not really. Guys, I don’t know what I’m going to do here. I feel like I’m in over my head.”
“Well, what do you want from him? Do you want more than an employee-employer relationship?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then what’s the big deal? Has he asked you for more?”
“No, but …”
“But what?” Emma clearly wanted all the dirty details.
“I mean, nothing really. It’s not like he’s propositioned me or asked me for anything. But there’s a … flirtation or—I don’t know. When I’m close to him, I feel butterflies in my stomach. And …”
“And what?” Emma said.
“I feel like I just want to kiss him and slap him at the same time. Does that sound crazy?”
“No. It sounds like you love him.”
“Don’t be stupid. I don’t even know him. Of course I don’t love him. Maybe I have lust for him because he’s hot, but …”
“Yep. Chloe said. “You’re in lust with your boss.”
“Yeah, but the absolute worst boss ever. It sucks.” And then I heard footsteps, so I pressed my lips together. I turned around and saw my dad with Dylan standing there, both of them with beers in their hands.
“So, Mom said that we should set the table and that food will be ready within 15 minutes,” my dad said. “Dylan, would you like to have a seat while the girls set the table?”
“Sure. Thank you, Fred.”
“No worries. I’m so surprised that you’ve heard of Guyana. Most people have never heard of my country.”
“Yes. I am actually planning on doing some business there.”
I groaned out loud. “Really, Dylan? No business talk at the dinner table.”
“We’re not at the dinner table yet, Abby,” he said with a smile. I growled.
“Now, now, Abby,” my dad shook his head. “I am the one that asked Dylan to tell me more about his business and the work that you do because you’ve really not told me much.”
“Dad, I just started the job last week, and I’m a secretary. There’s not much for me to tell.”
“But you can always work your way up through the company. Correct?” My dad looked at me and then at Dylan. “Is there room for advancement?”
“For good employees, there’s always room for advancement,” Dylan nodded.
I just stared at the two of them. “Well, that’s great to hear. Thank you, Mr. McAllister.”
“It’s Dylan. Remember, Abby.”
“Uh-huh. I remember.”
“I’d love to help you work your way up through the company. Lots of long hours—”
“You know what? I’m going to set the table now,” I cut him off and walked out of the room. “You guys coming?” I said over my shoulder to Chloe and Emma.
“We’re coming.” They jumped up and followed me out of the room.
“Okay. He is such a dish,” Emma whispered as we headed towards the kitchen.
“He’s a snack I would eat all night long,” Chloe added.
I stopped and looked at the two of them. “Do you realize you’re talking about my mortal enemy?”
Emma rolled her eyes. “You’re so dramatic. How is he your mortal enemy?”
“Didn’t you just see how he was winding me up in there?”
They both looked at me with blank expressions,
“Girl, are you going crazy?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“He literally just said that you could work your way up through the company and most probably make more money and get a better position.”
“He didn’t really mean that. He was just saying that because my dad was there.”
“But he said it so—”
“And I’m sure he didn’t mean work my way up through the company into management. I’m sure he meant into his bed or something.”
“Maybe that’s what you’re wishing,” Chloe said, with a twinkle in her eyes. “But I definitely didn’t get that from what he was saying.”
“Oh, you two are so frustrating!”
“We’re frustrating?” They looked at each other and then at me.
“Abby, I hate to say this …” Emma said gently.
“What?”
“But I think you need to get laid.”
“What?”
“You are displaying the classic signs of someone who has not had sex in a long time. You’re pent up and frustrated and acting like a royal biatch.”
“You are not calling me a bitch. I know you’re not calling me a bitch in my parents’ house.”
“Um,” she shrugged, “just a teeny weeny little bit.”
“Argh,” I growled again. “You guys.” I placed my hands over my eyes and rubbed my eyebrows. “Fine. I’m just a little bit horny,” I said. “And yes, I want to jump his bones. I do. I’m admitting it. Don’t you guys dare tell anyone.”
“Can we tell Isabella?” Chloe said.
“Fine. You can tell Isabella, but that’s it. Because it’s never going to happen. I’m never going to lay a finger on him. And maybe I just need to go out and meet someone else because I can’t be around him feeling the way that I do.”
“Or you could just bang him,” Chloe pointed out.
“I’m not going to bang him. No way, no how. Not in a million years.”
“Not in a million years what?” a deep voice said right behind me.
I repressed a groan. Of course, Dylan was standing there. How much had he heard? Oh, God. Kill me now. If he had heard us talking about me being horny, I would die. “Nothing. We were just talking about how I want to play the drums and if I’m going to bang too loud.”
“I don’t think you could bang too loud,” he said with a smile. “I mean, if you want, you can come and bang at my place.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have soundproof walls,” he said. “You can bring the drums over and you can bang all night long if you want.”
“Uh-huh.” I stared at him through narrow eyes. “You want me to bring my drum set over and bang all night long?”