Be My New Year's Dream: A BWWM Holiday Romance (Make It Marriage Holidays Book 2) by Nia Arthurs

Author:Nia Arthurs [Arthurs, Nia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-26T18:30:00+00:00

16

Atlas

Whispers follow me like a wave as I trod down the hallway. Prickles of unease zip down my spine. What is up with everyone today?

I tuck my folder into my chest, gripping it tightly like an armor. Ducking into a hallway, I subtly sniff my pits. Smells like my deodorant. I’m good there.

My brows pull into the middle of my forehead as a group of teenagers laugh in hushed harmony, but they all stop when I get near.

What’s so funny? What’s going on?

I pull up my phone. Sigh heavily.

I’m out of juice.

I should have charged it last night, but I was too preoccupied thinking about Lev. Then this morning, I chatted with mom over breakfast before heading to work. Once I got here, there was the drama with Morine not showing up…

All that to say, my phone’s completely dead.

And now I’m stuck in an alternate universe where I’m suddenly the center of attention.

Eyes dart to me like steel drawn to magnet. They pierce my back, my side, my face. Invisible daggers that I don’t understand.

I slip into the bathroom to escape the stares. What could I have done to warrant all that attention? A shudder wracks my body as I recall one of my co-workers slanting me an unusually cold look.

Is everyone going insane today?

I tap the faucet. Pool my hands under the stream. Gather the cool, refreshing water in my hands. After splashing my face a couple times, I dot my cheeks with a paper towel and suck in a breath. It’s okay. It’s nothing serious.

I point a finger at my reflection. “Just be confident. Whatever’s going on, you can handle it.”

The door bursts open as if summoned by my challenge.

Mary hustles inside. “Oh my gosh.” Her voice is a frantic, urgent whisper. “Girl, there you are!”

“Mary?” I moan. I’m so relieved to see a friendly face I nearly fly into her arms.

The older woman rushes over to me, her transparent black dress flailing behind her. She paired the star-studded fabric with neon leggings that shine like emergency cones.

“How could you keep me in the dark like this? I thought we were friends,” Mary cries.

“What are you talking about?” I stare at her. “Tell you what?”

She moves her head around like it’s stuck on a spring. “That you’re sleeping with Lev Buchanan.” Big hoop earrings slap her cheeks. “For a good cause of course.”

“I’m what?”

Mary freezes, her lips slacking. “It… isn’t it true?”

“No, it’s not!”

She blinks. “But you’re all over the internet.” Fumbling for her phone, Mary brings her screen to life with a flick of her nails. She shoves the device at me. “You and Lev Buchanan looked like lovers at the Muellers’ End of the Year party last night. Everyone’s saying you’re an item.”

I skim the article with growing dread. “They’re not saying we’re an item. They’re saying I slept with him to get donations for the center.”

“You’re like a trap queen version of Mother Theresa.”

I stumble back. “This can’t be happening.”

“Atlas, are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay!” I shriek.

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