6. Milo

Chapter six

Milo

O kay. This is fine. This is totally fine.

My hands are shaking as I step into the office this morning. I haven’t seen or spoken to Baylen since the night we spent together. Not that that’s surprising. It was the weekend after all.

I don’t think I’m ready to face him. What if things are awkward? Gods, what the hell was I thinking asking him to come home with me?

Sure, everything seemed perfect at the time but between coming and the morning sun, something changed. Something left Baylen feeling like he needed to run instead of sitting down and talking things through with me.

I bring my bag over to my desk, setting it down and logging into my computer for the day. I check the schedule and breathe a sigh of relief. There’s nothing on the books until later this afternoon.

We’re experiencing our first snowfall of the year. It’s the perfect time to start decorating the office. Yeah, that’s a brilliant idea. I can focus on making this place look like a wonderful winter wonderland instead of panicking that I’m seconds away from losing my job!

After answering a few emails, I make my way to the supply office. I have to ask Brenda for help but eventually, the two of us find the holiday decorations. I bring the box back to my desk, my brows wrinkling when I notice that Baylen still isn’t in.

That’s really weird.

Is he avoiding me? Is he taking a sick day so he doesn’t have to see me? Gods, am I really such a narcissist that I think he wouldn’t come to work because of me? I need to get a grip and ignore the way my chest is clenching so tightly it’s starting to hurt.

My inner octopus is mourning just as much as the rest of me. He’s curled up in a tight ball, unhappy about the entire situation. If only I could do a fun little dance and pour hormones into the water to appeal to Baylen’s baser instincts like octopi do in the wild.

My stomach clenches almost painfully. Oh gods. Is that what's going on with me? Has my inner octopus decided Baylen is our mate? Has he started doing his best to blast a cocktail of pheromones into the air to attract him to us?

I have to be more careful. Those pheromones can cause changes to occur in my mate’s body. Normally, that would be cause for celebration if we’re on the same page. But Baylen and I are clearly not. Fuck, I’ll just make sure I wipe down everything I touch and limit the amount of time we’re together alone. That would be fine. Everything is fine .

I do my best to focus entirely on the decorations. If I focus on this, maybe the emotions inside of me won’t be so overwhelming. I can’t possibly be pining after Baylen after one night.

Okay, who am I trying to fool? That night was everything. Baylen had submitted so softly for me. I could tell the moment his head went blissfully silent. It was everything yet I want it again. Once wasn’t enough. One night with Baylen could leave me satisfied for a lifetime yet, I find myself hungry . I want more. I want him .

I take my time placing window clings to each of the offices up here, saving Baylen’s office for last. Once that’s done, I move to hanging up lights around the edges of the room. Plugging them in, I can’t help but smile at how the feel of the office has already changed. Sure, we’re all here to work, but with these lights, the Christmas spirit starts to hit.

In the middle of my decorating, Bridgette steps out of the elevator with two bags of food in her hands. “I hope you’re hungry!”

“You are a goddess among humans,” I tell her with a grin. We sit at my desk, sharing burgers and fries.

“Baylen isn’t here?” I shake my head. “Interesting. How did the other night go?”

My eyes widen and I look around, making sure no one can hear us. “Don’t talk about it here!”

“Why not? Was it bad?”

I look away. Would this be easier if the sex was terrible? I think maybe it would be, then I wouldn’t be left here pining .

“Oh,” she breathes out, “it was really good, wasn’t it?” I nod my head, letting it hang as I pick up a few more fries and shove them into my mouth. “You look like the saddest puppy. Did something happen afterwards?”

“He left,” I confess softly. “He left with only a note saying this can’t happen again because it would be inappropriate.”

Bridgette reaches over, squeezing my shoulder. “Look on the bright side, Milo. This job won’t last forever and once it’s over, maybe he’ll be comfortable seeing where things go.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. I should cut this off before I have time to properly hope but whoops, would you look at that, hope already blooms inside my chest without my permission. Maybe Bridgette is right. Maybe Baylen just needs us to no longer be working together before he’ll properly pursue something with me.

My inner octopus latches onto that, holding it close to our chest like a forbidden promise.

“You know what else this place needs?” Bridgette murmurs, standing up from my desk and digging through the box on the floor. “Oh, here we go!”

Bridgette takes something, hanging it in the doorway leading into Baylen’s office. I stare at it for a long moment before I find myself chuckling. “Really?”

Bridgette shrugs. “It looks nice there,” she says, looking up at the mistletoe and smiling to herself, like a cat who’s ate the canary.

“I like it,” I decide, nodding my head. “All we need is the tree but that can wait until a little closer to Christmas.”

“Good thinking.”

The elevator opens and my eyes snap up. My stomach is flooded with equal parts warmth and dread as Baylen steps into the office. Our eyes meet and I feel completely frozen, unable to do anything but stare as he moves towards me.

“Hello,” he says as he steps over to Bridgette and I. “When you’re done with lunch, I’ll need the itinerary for the board meeting printed off. I need you to make copies of the forms I sent you on Friday, enough for each person attending the meeting. I’ll also need you to tell my mother I can’t talk this afternoon if she calls. I know I usually let you forward them to me, but I’m far too busy today.”

My stomach sinks the longer Baylen talks. I should have known things would be business as usual for him. That night has shaken me to my very core but for him, it wasn’t anything special.

Back to pining silently from the sidelines it is!

Baylen looks around at the office, finally taking in the decorations. “Oh,” he breathes out. His features finally crack, softening slightly. “I like the decorations,” he says, turning towards me and giving me the tiniest, tentative smile. “Thank you, Milo.”

I tip my head towards him in acknowledgement, hiding the fact that my heart is trying to leap out of my chest and into his hands. “You’re welcome, Baylen. I was just finishing up my lunch so I’ll have all of those things done quickly for you.”

“Thank you.” Baylen turns and heads into his office. As he closes the door, he looks around at the office once more. What I would give to see the chip in his armor once more, but that might not be possible. Maybe that truly was a once and done night.

Letting out a long sigh, I turn towards my laptop and log back on. “It’ll be okay,” Bridgette says, petting the top of my head. “Just give him time. I have a good feeling about the two of you.”

Curse my inner octopus for agreeing. One of these days I’ll need to get him and my human side on the same page. Today is not that day because hope has already settled in, laying down roots inside my chest.