My instincts took over, and I quickly stepped back, covering my neck with my hands, trying to hide any visible trace of what had happened.
“I probably… I probably scratched myself in the shower,” I said quickly, inventing an excuse to mask my embarrassment.
Jeremy watched me with a slight smile on his face, as if he wasn’t entirely convinced. Then he said something that left me staring at him in surprise.
“I’ll tell HR you were late because of me,” he said, his voice low but carrying a certainty that caught me off guard.
My eyes widened for a moment as I processed his words. Was he really saying he’d do that for me? What could he possibly gain from covering for me? My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation.
“You’d really… do that for me?” I asked, my voice softer than I int
