┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

We got out of the elevator after coming back to our office building and we both were silent until I realized Josh was walking not towards our office, but Lydia's. I rushed forward, taking quick steps, and grabbed his arm, pulling him to a halt.

He stared at my grip on his arm for a long minute and then finally looked at me, shrugging my grip off.

I rolled my eyes. "Where do you think you're going?" I asked.

"To tell Lydia I don't want to work with you."

"But we just agreed back at the restaurant that we would manage."

He replied, "So? That doesn't mean I won't keep trying. I want to get rid of you."

"You're so kind, Josh," I muttered sarcastically.

"I'm still going to try."

"All right. Just tell me when you want to meet to plan out the first trip." I shrugged and walked past him, entering our office and going to my desk. As soon as I sat down, Katy, Brady, London, and Liam all rushed over to my desk, startling me. "What? What? What did I do?" I asked, staring at their faces.

"Did Owen really quit?" London asked.

"Or was he fired?" Liam asked.

"You just went for brunch with Josh, didn't you?" Katy asked.

"Why?" Brady chipped in.

I relaxed into my chair, staring at my fellow co-workers. "Don't you guys have work to do?" I lifted my brows.

"Tell us," London and Brady demanded at the same time.

"Tell you what? Didn't Owen tell you? He really quit. A few weeks ago he got that email from the other magazine, remember? He showed you," I lied, nodding at Liam.

He nodded softly.

"They offered him a higher salary. They had one free spot, so he's taking it. That's it," I shrugged, turning my computer on.

"And Josh?" Katy asked.

I resisted a sigh and looked up at her. "What about him?"

"You just went out with him."

"No," I lied. "No, we just left at the same time."

"And got back at the same time too?" Brady questioned skeptically.

"We went to The Locket. I went to see Jenny."

"Oh, his sister?" London asked.

I nodded.

"Why?" they asked in sync.

My brows furrowed before I stood up suddenly, startling them all. "Get back to work."

They groaned and sighed as they went back to their tables.

I sat back down, opening the journal just as the door opened and Josh walked in, taking his seat across from me. I leaned forward, looking at him over my computer. "Did she—"

"Nope," he answered quickly and then turned on his computer.

"I told you," I scoffed.

He glared at me.

"Do you want to start planning now?" I asked.

"No," he answered, staring at his screen as he typed away.

"Um, later then?"

"No," he repeated.

"After work?"

"No," he said again.

I released a breath in annoyance. I wanted to smash a head against a wall, I just wasn't sure if it should be his or mine. "Joshua—"

"No."

"Josh," Liam said.

"No," Josh replied again.

I watched him in amusement. "That wasn't me."

"I know," he said, glancing up at Liam. "What is it?"

"I was just hoping you could help me out with this. I know you've been to Venice before, so can you tell me some good places to—"

"No," Josh said again.

I stared in disbelief. "What is wrong with you?"

Liam looked at me hesitantly. "Poppy?"

"Yeah, sure," I nodded.

Liam is the youngest, he's twenty-one, and the newest employee we have here, he's the sweetest one. He writes about backpacking trips, mainly across Europe. I went to Venice before and apparently Josh had too before I even joined the magazine, but since we've been there, it wouldn't hurt anyone if we helped Liam out. Liam moved over, taking the chair from Owen's desk and pulling it up to mine.

I spent about thirty minutes shortlisting some good spots for his segment with him before he thanked me, saying he could do the rest on his own.

"I owe you," he chuckled, putting the chair back.

"No problem," I grinned.

He lingered for a second while I waited expectantly. "Are you free tonight?" he asked.

I blinked in surprise. "Um, tonight I'm—"

"She's busy," Josh answered for me.

I turned to look at him. "I am?"

He didn't say anything and turned his attention to Liam. "It's for work, don't worry. I think everyone in this office knows about your little crush. Ask her tomorrow."

I kicked Josh under the table softly before looking up at Liam.

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was just wondering if you wanted to grab dinner, that's all."

"Maybe some other time," I replied, "I'd love to, yeah, of course."

He nodded. "All right. Some other time then." He went back to his seat and continued working.

I ran a hand through my hair, glancing out the big glass window to my right. "Did you have to do that?" I asked, looking past my computer.

"What?" Josh asked, looking at me.

"Embarrass him like that."

"It's not a secret. Even you know he likes you."

"So? I'm not supposed to know until he tells me. You're such a dick, Josh."

He didn't reply and continued typing. I don't know what he's typing about, we haven't decided anything so far. I guess I would have to wait until after work to find out.

»»————　➴　————««

By five-thirty in the evening, everybody had left from work save Josh and me.

"Since you made sure I couldn't go to dinner with Liam," I said, catching his attention. "Please tell me you want to talk about the trip. We have to give Lydia the itinerary by tomorrow. At least the outline."

He stared at me and then nodded once. "Sure. Let's leave."

I paused. "And go where?"

"Somewhere else. We'll talk over dinner."

"Okay," I said slowly and skeptically. "I'm going to use the bathroom and be right back. We'll leave then."

He nodded again.

I stood up, turning the computer off and tucking my journal into my purse. I left my purse there and went to the bathroom that was down the hall. I used the toilet and washed my hands, drying them off with paper towels before opening the door and walking out. While walking to our office room, I heard the elevator ding. I stopped at our door and looked over just in time to see the door closing. I closed my eyes, shifting my weight from one to the other. "You're kidding me." I walked into our office and saw his desk empty, everything shut off and packed up.

I rushed to my table, grabbed my purse, and then ran back out, pressing the elevator button a trillion times. When I realized it would take too long, I took slow steps back and pushed the staircase door open, rushing down.

I can't believe he's being so immature about this.

Our office was on the ninth floor of this building, there are other departments and other, smaller magazine companies here too. I was panting by the time I reached the lobby with my chest heaving as I breathed. I pushed the door open and stumbled out, slowing down to a walk as I walked to the main revolving door and scanned myself out.

I should really get more fit.

I started walking towards the exit and when I reached the sidewalk, I decided in my mind for good that there was no fucking way Josh and I could work together without murdering each other. It was impossible. We couldn't stand each other for a few hours at work, let alone spending days, maybe even weeks, together in a new city.

From the office building, I walked home which was only ten minutes away, and once I made it into my apartment, I went to my room, leaving my purse on the bed for the time being. I changed out of my clothes and took a quick shower, putting on a pair of black joggers with a baby pink tank top. I grabbed a black Nike jacket and pulled it on, pulling my hair back into a bun and pulling on a pair of socks before moving to the kitchen. I drank some water while looking for something to make for dinner.

I could be having a nice dinner with Liam right now if it wasn't for Josh.

I groaned, feeling too exhausted to make dinner, and moved to the couch instead, lying down. I turned the TV on, scrolling through Netflix until my phone rang on the glass coffee table in front of me. I answered it, reading Jenny's name on the screen. "Hey, what's up?" I asked, crossing my legs, picking fuzz off my socks.

"Hey, are you free right now?" she asked.

I could hear the chaos of the restaurant in the background. "Yeah, I'm free. Do you want help?"

"Yeah," she laughed softly. "The restaurant is really busy right now and you know Lilah?"

"Blake's babysitter, yeah." I faintly remember hearing about the high schooler who lives in their neighborhood and watches Blake sometimes for some money.

"Well, she's not at home and I really need someone to babysit Blake for the night."

I hesitated. "Um, I've never watched him all by myself, you know."

"I trust you," she said, sounding desperate. "Please, Pops, help me out. Come on. I'll come pick him up no later than midnight. And don't worry, I've already fed him and changed his diaper but I'll give you his baby bag just in case he wakes up—"

"You think I'm capable of changing a diaper?" I asked.

"I think you'll manage. You can babysit him. Can you come pick him up? I'll give you a free dinner."

I stood up, pulled a pair of crocs on, and grabbed my wallet from my room before pocketing my apartment keys. "What am I eating tonight in exchange for being his babysitter then?"

"Chow mein with some good sticky rice."

I turned the lights off, locking the apartment door. "I'm on my way."

"Thank you, thank you," she sang.

I hung up and went back downstairs, getting a taxi and going to the restaurant. I pulled the door open and walked past the tables, using the back door to enter the staff room beside the kitchen. Jenny was gathering all his things and packing up the bag while Blake was sitting on his baby mat.

"Hey," I said, announcing my presence.

"Hey," she said, scooping him up and handing him to me. I took the bag from her once she tucked the mat into it and she gave Blake a quick kiss on the forehead before handing me a takeout bag with my dinner, waving us bye. Before I could leave, she stopped me. "Poppy."

I spun back around. "Yeah?"

She paused, picking at her nails. "There's dinner for two people there. Can you make sure Josh gets some?"

I hesitated, glancing at the bag. "Wouldn't he like it better if you called him to tell him that?"

She shook her head. "He probably wouldn't answer. He didn't get to see Blake for that long either today. Can you take him there?"

"You want me to eat dinner at Josh's apartment?"

She nodded. "Is that too much? You don't have to if you don't want to."

I shook my head. "That's okay. I'll go. I'm sure Blake would like it too."

"Thanks," she smiled.

I smiled back before telling Blake to wave his mommy bye. Once he did, I left the restaurant, getting another taxi.

"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked, glancing at me while I held Blake in my lap, facing me. He put his head down on my shoulder while I grabbed a pacifier from his bag, handing it to him.

"Asphodel apartments, please."

He nodded and began driving.

.

.

.

.

.