Perfect Office Pact by Maria Jane

Author:Maria Jane [Jane, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: True Bird Publishing, LLC
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

I said it would be fun? Handing out candy and sunscreen bottles in a Memorial Day parade… He meant the opposite. Even though he’d washed it three times, the shirt irritated his neck. The hat scratched his ears. It was too hot for pants, and his short cuffs grazed his skin. And the noise. His discreet earplugs only cut it by half. Still, he could see her from his spot at the rear of their pack. Her khaki shorts fit her curvy form, and she even made the t-shirt look good. Maybe she’d been shooting daggers at him behind her sunglasses, but he didn’t care. She’ll eventually see I’m a kind, decent human, right?

He breathed through the first half hour, in, out, smile. Hand a sunscreen bottle to a mom or dad, grandmother or grandfather. Repeat. Wave, smile, and say happy Memorial Day. Offer gratitude to the vets he passes.

Sweat drips from his forehead, and he wipes his brow with the handkerchief in his pocket. He raises the hat to cool his scalp. It scuffs along his ears as he replaces it. The fabric of his shirt collar sits heavy on his clavicle, and he slides a finger between it and his skin.

Smile. A horn screeches, and he jerks his head. Adjusting the shirt on his shoulders, he tries to focus on the bottles in his bag. Take one out, smile, and pass it to a parade goer. All of a sudden, he’s aware of the weight on his back, the broad strap of the pack slung across his body. He lifts it off his shoulder. His leg twitches. Shit. I’m losing it.

“Declan.” Cami fits her arm around his shoulder, applying pressure to his bicep. “Get in the car with Cade.”

Where’d she come from? Wasn’t she in the passenger’s seat?

Sea of bodies swimming around him, he nods. Cami releases him and, hand in the center of his back, guides him towards the vehicle. Opening the door, he slides into the seat. Cool air from the AC drenches his face, and he exhales. Doubling over, he takes three deep breaths.

“You okay?” Cade asks.

“Yeah.” Declan forces himself to sit up.

Glancing out the window, he locks eyes with Mira.

Her sunglasses are perched on her head, and her eyes, wide and round, hold his.

He smiles and waves, hoping his face conveys calm. How bad had I looked? Could I claim epileptic fit? No. That would be demeaning to everyone with seizure disorders.

“How lame did I just look?” He chances a vulnerable moment with Cade.

“I barely even noticed Cami jumped out. From what I could see in the rearview, it looked like she hugged you, kissed your cheek, and offered to switch places. Aside from being ghost white, you looked pretty normal.”

“Thanks, one out of two isn’t bad.”

The vehicle starts forwards, and Declan focuses on the cool air blowing across his face.

MIRA

Face drained of color, Declan holds her gaze. Pupils large and face glistening with sweat, Mira’s breath catches. He does not look good.

Pulse racing, she sidesteps to Cami.

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