Page 111 of Help Wanted

“All right. Have a safe trip. I’ll miss you.” Kenley bit his earlobe and Sidney made a gagging sound.

“I’ll miss you too.”

With a wave they left him at his desk and headed for the mall.

* * *

“What do you think of this one? Too much?” Kenley held up the proverbial little black dress on steroids. The last party she’d been to hadn’t ended very well. She hoped she wouldn’t be accused of adultery.

“Does it come with a can of Insta-Pimp?” Sid smirked.

“You could just say no. You don’t have to come up with a clever insult for every dress.”

“It’s a gift.”

Kenley laughed.

“I want to look really good so Zane isn’t embarrassed to have me with him. I know he’s nervous about seeing his old classmates.”

Sidney let out a laugh at this. “You’re kidding right? He will be thrilled to have you with him. Even if you wore a burlap bag. Besides, you’re already fulfilling his wildest dreams by looking like the girl he fantasized in high school.”

“I am?”

“Didn’t he tell you? It was the reason he didn’t want to hire you at first. Because you reminded him of the girl who wouldn’t give him the time of day back then. She broke his little heart.” She shook her head. “I think he gave in and hired you because it was his way of taking the power back or something like that.”

“Oh,” was the only thing Kenley could say.

“But that doesn’t matter now. You two are great together.”

“Right.” Kenley hadn’t realized Zane was with her because she looked like someone he’d once loved. This information made it suddenly hard to breathe. All this time, she’d thought Zane cared about her, and here he was only living out a fantasy that didn’t have anything to do with her.

An hour later, they agreed on a different black dress. They went out to dinner, where Kenley pretended to have a great time. But the truth was, Sidney’s words had taken root and doubt was growing quickly.

She knew how she felt about Zane and he made her feel special when they were alone. But was he only with her to live out some fantasy?

He called the next day, but she was in the middle of showing Hunter how to use the microwave to heat up his lunch.

She called him back later.

“How did the shopping go?” he asked.

“I found a dress.”

“You would be beautiful in a paper bag.”

“You think so?” She wasn’t trying to hit him up for a compliment, but she wanted to know if he really felt that way or if he was just saying what was expected. One off-hand remark from Sidney and she was beginning to question everything. She hated it.

“Yes. And not just beautiful, but smart and funny.” He sounded completely sincere and her heart relaxed a little. Surely that didn’t have anything to do with an old fantasy. “Plus, I think you’re beautiful in nothing at all.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the only guy who’s ever seen me in that.”

“I’m the luckiest man on the planet.”

She smiled, feeling special. She almost asked him about the girl from his past, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”