Chapter 202
I hopped up off the couch and beat him to the door, giddy with excitement at the possibility of getting my IAC soon. Even if it hurt, even if creepy Christian was right up in my face, I was still excited about the possibility.
“Well, someone seems to be getting her hopes up for absolutely no reason,” Brandon muttered as he called the elevator.
“I know,” I said, grabbing ahold of his arm. “Isn’t it exciting?”
“To get your hopes up for no reason?”
“Yes—to have something to hope about.” Ever since my Transformation, the only things I could possibly get excited about where the chances that someone from the team might call me—which other than Brandon was rare—or someone from the team might show up at my house—which only happened at the one football game. I wasn’t even excited about Christmas this year, which was a major change for me since I am usually a Christmasaholic.
We boarded the elevator, but I didn’t let go of his arm. He didn’t seem to mind. I thought about mixed signals and all that stuff, but it didn’t make me lessen my grip. It just seemed like I needed that personal attachment to someone like me, and right now, Brandon was the closest to it. Besides, he smelled really good.
“So what did you tell him?”
“Just that you were here and wanted to come say hi if he had a minute,” he shrugged. His hands were in his jeans pockets, and he’d taken to wearing a black leather jacket much like his father’s. In fact, if there was a chance he’d fit in his dad’s I would’ve thought it was his father’s. But Elliott still had a significant amount of girth, particularly in the shoulders, on Brandon.
“Well, I hope he doesn’t think that’s… weird.”
“It’s Christian. Who knows what he thinks is weird.”
“True.” He had a point. The elevator dinged, and we were on the ground floor. I said hello to some of the workers, the ones who had been there when we arrived. There was a new guy who was really nice, and he was there with a wide smile. “Hola, Juan Diego!” I called. “Como estas?”
“Bien. Y estedes?”
“Bien, gracias,” I replied as we headed toward the door. I gave him a little wave. Two years of Spanish was coming in sort of handy. I didn’t get a lot of chances to practice my Spanish in Iowa, but I knew enough to ask someone how they were and say I was fine, thank you.
“Listen to you,” Brandon said as the November breeze kissed our cheeks. “You’re a regular Sofia Vergara.”
“I wish,” I muttered. He looked down at me like I was crazy to want to be the gorgeous actress whose legs never quit, and it made me feel all warm inside that he seemed to be happier that I was me. We walked the rest of the way in relative silence, but it only took a few seconds to get there because, at headquarters, there was no one to walk slow for. It was awesome to get to zip around uninhibited, something I hadn’t had much of an opportunity to do until now.
As soon as we walked in the door, I spotted Jamie standing in his office, and even though we were there to see Christian, I couldn’t help but run in to say hello. He had been such a lifesaver for me—literally—and even though I’d thanked him more times than I could count, it was always nice to see him.
“Cass!” he said, embracing me. “You’re here. For the whole week?”
“I think so,” I replied, squeezing him tightly and then letting him go. He winced a little bit, and I remembered I’m much stronger than I used to be. “I never know anything for certain anymore,” I reminded him.
“Right. Well, it sure is nice to see you. What brings you over here?”
“Oh, well, we… I mean I… just wanted to come and say hi to everyone. Cadence and Aaron are giving Mom and Dad a tour of the gym. So I thought we’d just head over here and… say hi. To everyone.”
Jamie nodded his head, but he wasn’t an idiot. “I see. Well, I believe Christian is in his office.” He squinted at me—sort of a half wink with both eyes. “I’d come over with you, but I don’t want to be involved in anything that might get me in trouble with the boss and your sister later.”
“I have no idea what you’re even talking about,” I said, making an innocent face at him.
“Mmm hmmm,” he said, though he had a smirk on his face. “Hey, when you get a chance, stop back by. I have a couple of questions for you.”
It was my turn to make a face. I wrinkled my nose at him. “Does this have to do with my fangs?”
“Maybe,” he replied, taking a few steps back toward his desk.
“Ugh,” was about all I could say. I turned and went back to Brandon, who was waiting for me at the door.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I bet if you bit him he’d stop asking,” and then looked up at Jamie with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Normally, if someone suggested I bite someone with my fangs, I would be greatly offended, but this time I laughed. An image of Jamie attempting to look into my mouth to check for my fangs right before I turned and sunk my teeth into his neck filled my mind, and I chuckled. “No, but I’ll keep that in mind for our next stop,” I joked. I waved at Jamie, and we headed across the hall. I was careful not to touch Brandon this time since I wanted Christian to think I only had eyes for him—one eye in particular—the one that needed an IAC.
