The words on the screen ran together. With a sigh, I rubbed my closed eyes and took a long drink of my latte. I wrinkled my nose as the cool liquid hit my tongue. It had sat too long.
Last night, I’d forced Serenity to play video games with me until neither of us could keep our eyes open. It wasn’t that I’d been caught up in any of them. I couldn’t sleep. Every time I’d closed my eyes, I’d seen that janitor watching me with that leer. I shuddered at the thought of it. Of course I’d overslept and missed meeting Aunt Jo before classes, but she would just have to get over it.
I glanced at the clock. Four thirty. I shut my laptop and slipped it in my back pack. I had two and a half hours before I met Mercer. A light airy sensation fluttered in my chest. This was just an interview, a very intimate interview with a man who was clearly flirting with me. I chuckled as I climbed in my car and started the engine. What was I thinking? He was probably just buttering me up. Not that he needed to.
I parked and sprinted up the stairs to burst through my front door. The living room was empty with and one of our extra blankets flung over the back of the couch and plastic video game covers strewn on the floor in front of the television. I pushed open Serenity’s door and peeked inside. She sat in front of her computer, typing away with her headphones on with her head, bobbing along with the bass that emanated lightly in the room. I tiptoed behind her and yanked the headset off. She leaned her head back and looked up at me.
“Yes?” she asked.
“How’s the coding coming?”
“It’d be better if I didn’t have to redo everyone else’s work.” She peered back at the screen with her fingers hovering over the keys.
“Are you being nitpicky again?”
“No. This is a mess. How do they expect our code to blend?”
“Isn’t James supposed to coordinate that?”
She gave a sarcastic laugh. “That would mean James is worth more than just kissing Mercer’s ass.”
I crossed my arms. “I thought you were happy about him being lead.”
“Yeah, well, he’s not living up what he promised. And what’s worse is this pressure is making him even more of an ass.”
“Strange,” I said. “I don’t remember him being uptight.”
“Must be the pressure of leadership.”
I waved at her. “Have fun with your code. I need to get ready.”
She turned her chair to face me. “You’re meeting with Mercer tonight?”
I nodded. “This week has been so long.”
“Cassi, please be careful. His words are like honeyed poison.”
I sighed and looked at her. “I’ll be fine, Mom. I already figure he’s being nice to get a good interview, or to get closer to you.”
She scowled and turned back to her computer. “It may be more than that. And I’m sure the thrill is great and all, but it always turns out bad.”
I paused at the note of sadness in her voice. “Serenity, what happened between the two of you?”
“More like what didn’t happen,” she muttered.
I moved to her desk. “Okay, you’re gonna need to elaborate on that.”
“You need to get ready. You’re running out of time.” She placed her headphones back over her ears and focused on the screen.
After a few long moments, I sighed and walked out. Trying to wheedle it out of her would take all night. I was not cancelling this interview to play truth or dare minus the dare with my roommate.
I dug through my closet, yanking several dresses out before tossing them aside. Finally, I chose one with gauzy layers of amethyst that would bring out the green in my eyes. I stepped in the bathroom and pulled my hair up into an elegant twist with a few strands hanging in curls against my right cheek. He was older, so he probably liked a more sophisticated look.
At seven, the doorbell rang. I slipped on a pair of sandaled heels as I hobbled to the foyer. He turned as I opened the door. A smile lit his face as his gaze traveled from my head and downward. My heart raced as my eyes lingered on the way his dress shirt hinted at the hardened abs beneath.
He held out a hand to me. “Beautiful.”
I took it with a light laugh. “Thank you.”
He glanced into the living room as I shut the door.
I shook my head. “She’s wrapped up in the code.”
He sighed and gave a sad smile. “I suppose I should be happy she’s dedicated to the project.”
“Whatever happened between you two must have been pretty bad,” I said.
“Are you starting the interview before we’ve gotten in the car?”
I shrugged with a grin. “Worth a try.”
He laughed. “Well, we should get this date started so you can grill me properly.”
My heart gave a quick patter as he led me down the steps. He’d called it a date. I took a deep breath. This was just a mind game for him. He wanted to have an upper hand in this interview.
Get your head straight, I told myself.
He clicked a button on his keys and the lights of a cherry red Corvette blinked. He held the passenger door open for me. I ran my hand over the black leather of the seat before I slid in.
“Fancy,” I said as he climbed in and started the engine.